Hundreds of civil servants to strike over pay and job cuts at 13 sites across Scotland and England

Civil servants at a number of UK Government departments are to take industrial action in a dispute over pay, security and conditions.

It comes after the Department of Work and Pensions launched a voluntary redundancy scheme at 13 sites across Scotland and England.

The move could see 424 jobs go, adding to almost 800 jobs already having been earmarked to be cut in 28 further locations.

A ballot on strike action held by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union closed at 12pm on Wednesday.

Those working in the Home Office, Border Force, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) will walk out from mid-December.

It is expected that action will continue for a month.

Further industrial action is also to be announced in December.

The action is likely to affect driving tests and the issuing of driving licences, as well as at passport control in airports.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka claimed that the union’s members are on “poverty pay”, as he hit out at the government.

“PCS members are angry. They helped to keep this country running during the pandemic and in return, have been treated appallingly by this government,” he said.

“With inflation now at 11.1%, it is inconceivable that they are expected to cope with yet another real terms pay cut.

“With tens of thousands of members on poverty pay it is no longer about tightening belts, but about choosing between heating and eating, and that is simply not acceptable for the government’s own workforce.”

Serwotka urged the government to negotiate with the union on a deal.

He continued: “We have made it clear to the Cabinet Office that we are available for talks throughout this period.

“I hope that they do the right thing and come back to the table prepared to meet our demands.

“If not, then we are prepared to do what we need to do to show them the value of our members’ work once they withdraw their Labour.”