More than 300 security staff at Westminster Palace who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will hold a 24-hour strike on the night of January 1, 2026. This will be the fourth day of protest action in the current dispute.
The strike is linked to a long-running dispute over working conditions: the employer has cut annual paid leave by six days, introduced longer shifts without consultation, and has not increased salaries since 2019. PCS General Secretary Fran Heithcote said: “The employer has cut employees’ leave and falsely claimed that they agreed to it. The recent offer of financial compensation is simply an insult.”
Due to the action, the traditional New Year’s event on the terrace of the House of Commons, where MPs, lords, and guests usually gather to watch the fireworks over the Thames, has already been canceled. The charity evening hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is also expected to be canceled. The union noted that the speaker, who is responsible for the parliamentary complex, refuses to intervene in the dispute.
The Parliament administration announced that it had developed contingency plans involving the police to ensure security. The strike will not affect Big Ben—the bell will chime midnight as usual.
This is one of a series of protests in the UK in 2025, despite efforts by the Labour government to improve labor relations. Docklands Light Railway cleaners are also striking on New Year’s Eve in a separate wage dispute.