Civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions will strike next week over their controversial three-year pay deal.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will stay away from work on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 March as part of a long-running pay dispute.
DWP staff at Jobcentres, the Pension Service and the Child Support Agency went on strike on 6 December over a pay deal, which the PCS claimed offers an average of 1% a year over three years, and 0% for many.
The union lobbied Parliament yesterday, calling on chancellor Alistair Darling to review the government’s 2% pay cap on civil and public service pay.
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PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The Budget is an ideal opportunity for the government to address its policy, which is driving down pay across the Civil Service. It is scandalous that people working in Jobcentres and benefits departments should be expected to stomach a 0% increase this year.
“The outbreak of industrial action in the Civil Service and next week’s two day stoppage illustrates the depth of anger being generated by the government’s pay cap,” he said.
