On 31 January, workers in HM Revenue & Customs are taking strike action over the threat of privatisation. Their employer is bringing in private contractors Sitel and Teleperformance to hire temporary staff at vastly reduced rates of pay to take calls.

Not only does this undercut contact centre workers, driving down wages, but it puts jobs at risk. At a time when massive cuts are throwing government workers on the dole, low paid private sector staff will be taking the work that they could have done to avoid redundancy. Meanwhile, any hope that newly employed temporary staff have of retaining their jobs in the long term is lost if privatisation isn't defeated.

But this is not just about workers in HM Revenue & Customs. The CBI has been remarkably candid in admitting that the recent attacks on public sector pensions were a vital first step in opening up public services to private contractors - and success in privatising tax jobs will show give them confidence that the unions can be defeated when they privatise vital services wholesale.

An attack on one group of workers is an attack on all of us. Show solidarity with striking workers at HMRC on 31 January, and make a stand against the bosses' assault on the services we all depend on.

Pickets in Liverpool:

Queen's Dock, Liverpool - https://www.facebook.com/events/326312607402696/

Regian House, Liverpool - https://www.facebook.com/events/326800560693086/

The Triad, Bootle - https://www.facebook.com/events/173645312741288/

Litherland House, Bootle - https://www.facebook.com/events/280932335302095/

St John's House, Bootle - https://www.facebook.com/events/201585816605152/