Jobcentre staff take strike action

Hundreds of contract staff in jobcentres will go on strike today in a dispute over job cuts.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working in call centres, jobcentres and offices across the country will walk out for two hours from 9:30am.

They are employed by Balfour Beatty, providing the Department for Work and Pensions with telephone and typing services.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This dispute is a result o a two tier workforce.

“Balfour Beatty staff work alongside civil servants but are treated much worse.”