Thousands of passport staff in the UK will stage a one-day strike over pay on Friday.
The Public and Commercial Services Union said over 74% of its members voted in favour of strike action, which will be followed by a discontinuous work to rule until October 20.
It warned the action would cause severe disruption to passport processing.
The union, which represents 2,500 staff working in London, Peterborough, Newport, Durham, Belfast, Liverpool and Glasgow, said staff are angry that the cost of a passport has gone up by 50% in the last 12 months but many have seen their pay rise below the cost inflation by just 1%.
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary said: “The union has been pressing for a formal pay offer, but management have shown a distinct lack of urgency by dragging their feet and cancelling pay negotiations.
“Staff fear a repeat of last year’s pay when it took management over a year to make a formal pay offer.”
By Bev Fearis
