Ballot papers for a two-day nationwide strike over government job cuts in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were sent out today to more than 90,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). The ballot involves those working in jobcentres, benefit offices, pension centres and the Child Support Agency (CSA) across England, Scotland and Wales. The PCS said the job cuts are leading to “the deterioration of key services” such as benefit payments and job broking services. The government has already cut 14,500 posts in the DWP as part of its Gershon efficiency drive. In total it plans to cut a further 70,000 across the rest of the Civil Service. The strike ballot closes on 6 January 2006, with the result announced shortly after. Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “Strike action is not a step we take lightly and we stand ready to reach a negotiated outcome that meets the interests of the public and staff, but the government need to take stock of the damage its cuts programme is having and think again.”
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