Thousands of Department for Work and Pensions staff vote in favour of strike action

Thousands of staff working for the DWP have voted for strike action in a dispute over low pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working in Jobcentres, the Pension Service and Child Support Agency voted 62% in favour of strike action over the possible imposition of a three-year pay offer.

The union claims the pay offer averages just 1% a year over the three years.

The union's executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss options for industrial action, including a two-day stoppage.

The PCS has also written to work and pensions secretary Peter Hain urging him to intervene and kickstart negotiations to avert a dispute.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "It is completely unacceptable that the department should seek to impose pay cuts in real terms on hardworking staff who have borne the brunt of massive job cuts."