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Union plans tax day strike chaos Union plans tax-day strike chaos
(about 5 hours later)
Britain's biggest civil service union is balloting 280,000 workers in 200 government departments and agencies on whether to go on strike. Britain's biggest civil service union is balloting 280,000 workers in 200 government departments and agencies about possible strike action.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) says action will start on 31 January if workers vote for it. The Public and Commercial Services Union says action could start on 31 January to coincide with the deadline for self-assessment tax returns.
The January date has been chosen to coincide with the deadline for self-assessment tax returns. It said workers were angry at compulsory job losses, below-inflation pay offers and outsourcing.
There is anger over compulsory redundancies, below-inflation pay offers and outsourcing. The Cabinet Office said the service had to change to meet expectations.
Union officials say a Yes vote could mark the start of the longest period of disruption for 20 years. Union officials say a "yes" vote could mark the start of the longest period of disruption for 20 years.
Overtime ban There is an onslaught against civil servants who face job losses, worse conditions and a pay cut Mark SerwotkaPCSU
If approved, the 24-hour strike will hit revenue offices, job centres, driving examinations, and many other sectors. If approved, the 24-hour strike would hit revenue offices, job centres, driving examinations, and many other sectors.
The union also warned that it would keep up the pressure with an overtime ban and other "surprise industrial action".The union also warned that it would keep up the pressure with an overtime ban and other "surprise industrial action".
General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "There will be a range of very imaginative forms of industrial action. We are already planning a second wave of action, which will not be a traditional one-day strike.
"There is an onslaught against civil servants who face job losses, worse conditions and a pay cut, so we are expecting a big 'yes' vote for industrial action."
Thousands of posts have already been cut, and the PCS is bracing itself for a further loss of 2,000 jobs at the Ministry of Defence.Thousands of posts have already been cut, and the PCS is bracing itself for a further loss of 2,000 jobs at the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Serwotka said there was an "orgy" of privatisation going on at the ministry.
Public sympathy
Officials said that the union's political fund would also be used for the first time - to quiz candidates in the elections across the UK in May about the government's policy.Officials said that the union's political fund would also be used for the first time - to quiz candidates in the elections across the UK in May about the government's policy.
In a statement, the Cabinet Office said that there was no need to take strike action, saying the civil service has to change to meet expectations. In a statement, the Cabinet Office said that there was no need to take strike action, saying the civil service had to change to meet expectations.
In a letter to Mr Serwotka, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell wrote: "While departments, and the civil service as a whole, will continue to do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancy, we cannot provide any guarantee in that respect.
"That is not something that any responsible employer of our size and complexity could or would do."
And he warned Mr Serwotka that the public could lose sympathy for civil servants if action was taken.