Hundreds of staff vote to strike over office return

Workers at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have been refusing to work 40% of their time in office since May

Hundreds of Office for National Statistics (ONS) workers have voted to strike in a dispute over how often they come into the office.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), based at the Newport, Titchfield, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh ONS offices, voted by 92% in favour of action.

Since May, workers have been refusing to spend at least 40% of their time in the office, continuing to work from home.

They recently escalated the dispute by refusing to work overtime, out of hours and out of grade.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Up until now our members have been taking action short of a strike but today they've voted to escalate this, which could involve an all-out strike.

"Our industrial action has until now had no tangible impact on the ONS' outputs - which was the point.

"We said our members can work at home just as well, if not better, than being in the office - but that can change now we have authority to call a full strike any time in the next six months."

He said if ONS management wants to ensure that work output remains unaffected they "must engage in meaningful talks" to end the dispute.

No strike dates have been announced but action short of strike will continue.