Tens of thousands of civil servants have overwhelmingly voted to strike in a row over pay and pensions.

Some 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union backed taking industrial action.

The union warned that unless it received “substantial proposals” from the government, it would announce a programme of “sustained industrial action” next Friday.

As well as pay and pensions, the dispute covers jobs and redundancy terms.

The PCS said the average ‘yes’ vote for action across the areas balloted - 86.2 per cent - was the highest percentage vote in the union’s history.

It said 126 employer areas could be hit by major industrial action, including the Home Office, which includes Border Force officials and passport workers, the Department for Transport, including driving examiners, and the Department for Work and Pensions, including staff in job centres and those processing benefits.

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The government must look at the huge vote for strike action across swathes of the civil service and realise it can no longer treat its workers with contempt. 

“Our members have spoken and if the government fails to listen to them, we’ll have no option than to launch a prolonged programme of industrial action reaching into every corner of public life.

“Civil servants have willingly and diligently played a vital role in keeping the country running during the pandemic but enough is enough.

“The stress of working in the civil service, under the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, job cuts and office closures means they’ve reached the end of their tethers.

“We are calling on the government to respond positively to our members’ demands. They have to give our members a 10 per cent pay rise, job security, pensions justice and protected redundancy terms.”

More follows... By Jane Dalton, Telegraph