Civil servants back strike vote

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Workers at the government's biggest department have voted to go on strike in a row over pay.

The threatened job action by 80,000 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could affect Jobcentres, pension payments and child support.

Leaders of the Public and Commercial Services Union said that, of the 33% of members who voted in the ballot, 62% backed a strike.

The move was in protest at government plans to impose a three-year pay offer.

Union leaders have not said what form the strike might take, although it did say that a two-day stoppage is an option.

Staff anger

The union claimed that around 40% of workers at the DWP will not receive a pay rise next year, while the offer averages just 1% a year for three years.

Union leadership have written to Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain to urge him to intervene in the dispute to avert strikes.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "It is completely unacceptable that the department should seek to impose pay cuts in real terms on hard-working staff who have borne the brunt of massive job cuts."

Mr Serwotka urged the DWP to re-enter talks over pay to avoid strikes.

"The anger of staff is illustrated by this strong vote in favour of strike action over an offer that will see the lowest paid receive only 24p above the minimum wage if it is imposed."

Union members at the department have staged a series of strikes already this year in disputes over pay and job cuts.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told union leadership at the TUC conference in September that "pay discipline" was essential if inflation was to remain low and growth steady.