48-hour public sector strike set to hit poorest hardest

Thousands
of workers in job centres and benefits offices are to stage a 48-hour strike
after the collapse of pay talks.

It
is now almost certain that more than 85,000 people in the Department for Work
and Pensions will stage a walkout on 16 and 17 February.

The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) accused the DWP of insisting on
pressing ahead with "unacceptable performance appraisals".

Mark
Serwotka, PCS general secretary, accused DWP managers of being unwilling to
engage in meaningful negotiation.

The
action will hit pensions, job centres and the Child Support Agency, threatening
delays to benefit payments

By Mike Berry