Members of the PCS union working in Jobcentres, benefit offices, pension centres and the Child Support Agency offices in London have voted for strike action in a dispute over job cuts and deteriorating services.
The union said it will now start talks with management to find a negotiated resolution to the dispute.
More than 1,000 Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) jobs have been cut across London. This has led to a deterioration of key services such as benefit payments, according to the union.
The cuts are part of a government efficiency drive to axe 30,000 jobs in the DWP and a further 70,000 across the rest of the civil service.
The PCS DWP group executive committee will meet next week to decide on strike days should the talks with the department break down.
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PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: “With high-level talks having made the prospect of a negotiated outcome possible, the union will be considering its options.
“But as this ballot result demonstrates, should talks fail, members are prepared to strike in defence of vital public services.”
