Britain's Queen Elizabeth II faces first strike of her reign

LONDON: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II faces the first staff strike of her over 60-year reign after a workers union ballot voted in favour of industrial action.

Staff at Windsor Castle, the Queen's weekend getaway in Berkshire, voted for industrial action yesterday in a dispute about not being paid enough to lead guided tours around the premises.

Nearly 84 per cent voted for action short of a full-blown strike in which workers go on strike, take other action like refusing to do overtime which could start from the end of April, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said.

The PCS claims staff have suffered years of pay restraint and are paid less than the living wage, with new recruits starting on as little as 14,400 pounds a year.

The 76 wardens involved are employed by the Royal Collection Trust, the charitable arm of the royal household, working at the castle entrance, around the grounds and inside, helping visitors and protecting artworks.

"These loyal workers are the public face of Windsor Castle and with this vote their message to their employer is loud and clear.

"Staff should be properly rewarded for their commitment to ensuring visitors from around the world can fully enjoy their time at the castle," said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.

The union represents 120 staff at Windsor Castle and balloted 76 of these, as they are the wardens called on to carry out extra duties.

"Following the union ballot we have been informed that some PCS-affiliated wardens at Windsor Castle will no longer participate in various activities undertaken during their working day, including using their language and first-aid skills, and conducting tours of specific areas of the castle during August and September," a trust spokesperson said.

An offer to expand the salary scale for a warden, starting at the regional living wage of 14,695 pounds for new joiners (based upon an average 36-hour working week), has been put to PCS and other unions.

Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, attracts 1.1 million visitors each year, who between them spend more than 17 million pounds, which is used by the Trust charity for the upkeep of the royal palaces and their contents.