Gordon Brown is set to face the wrath of civil servants as a union today confirmed plans to stage a national strike on the closing day for annual tax returns.
The Public and Commercial Services Union announced the result of a ballot for continuous industrial action in protest against job cuts and privatisation.
Mark Serwotka, the union's general secretary, confirmed that the strike would go ahead following a ballot result which saw three in five of union members (61%) vote in favour of full strike action on a turnout of just under 40%.
Almost four fifths (78%) of those balloted voted for industrial action short of strike action.
The first stoppage will be a one-day strike on January 31, which is the deadline for self-assessment tax returns. This will be followed up by a two-week overtime ban.
The union is seeking a list of assurances from the government over ongoing job cuts, pay negotiation and the outsourcing of staff to private companies.
The union blames Mr Brown for most of the policies that are hitting the civil service, including the relocation of 20,000 posts and the decision to cut 84,000 jobs.
The PCS, which represents 280,000 civil service members, has repeatedly claimed that key services suffer as a result of the government's radical job cuts, and condemns the widespread use of costly consultants while offering staff below-inflation pay offers.
Mr Serwotka said after announcing the ballot result that members' patience had worn thin.
"The people who have said they will go on strike to defend the services we all take for granted aren't high-flying mandarins or faceless bureaucrats, but hard-working and often low-paid civil and public servants delivering everything from passports, tax and benefits to supporting our armed forces and driving tests.
"If the government are going to avoid ongoing industrial action, starting with disruption to the self-assessment deadline then they need to give assurances over jobs, services and privatisation as well as making serious headway in tackling pay inequalities and low pay in the civil service and related bodies.
"I call on the management of the civil service to get around the table with us again and discuss our concerns."
In addition to hitting HM Revenue and Customs, the industrial action will impact on over 200 government departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies including, jobcentres, benefit offices, passports, driving exams, passports, the Ministry of Defence, the court service and national museums and galleries.
The union is also planning to stage a political campaign against the government's public service reforms for the civil service in the run up to the local and devolved elections in May.
