Civil servants stage 48-hour strike

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Up to 80,000 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are expected to take part in the industrial action, in protest at a below inflation pay offer.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said a three year deal was being imposed on workers at an average of 1% a year, although many will receive nothing extra this year.

The union said the lowest paid DWP workers will see their wages rise to just 24p above the national minimum wage under the deal.

Jobcentres, benefits offices, the pension service and the Child Support Agency will be hit by the strike, which follows an earlier walkout before Christmas.

PCS officials said the latest stoppage will cause "significant disruption", leading to offices being closed and those remaining open offering little or no service.

The DWP strike follows recent industrial action by coastguards and transport department staff, also over pay, and warnings of wider unrest in the civil and public service.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Staff at the forefront of delivering the lowest unemployment in a generation deserve better and will not tolerate being used by the Government as an anti-inflationary tool, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that their pay fuels inflation."

The union will hold a series of strike rallies today in towns and cities across Britain, including Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool and Norwich.

A DWP Spokesperson said: "DWP will do everything necessary to minimise disruption to its customers and is confident that its services and payments will be maintained. The three-year pay award provides a good deal."