HUNDREDS of universal credit staff will launch a two-day strike on Tueday in a row over workloads and staffing levels.

More than 200 workers at the Universal Credit Service Centre in Stockport are expected to walk out, in the latest blow to Amber Rudd’s miserly Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). 

Civil Service union PCS wants more than 100 staff recruited to deal with increasing workloads, an end to staff cuts and no more victimisation of union reps.

The union says staffing levels have fallen since universal credit was introduced.

Case managers have seen their caseloads increased week by week, and stress-related absences are higher among staff working on universal credit.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The decision to take strike action has not been taken lightly by our members in universal credit.

“They do their best to help claimants get the support they need.

“However due to cuts, big increases in workloads and victimising reps, they have run out of patience with management.

“DWP needs to stop attacking trade unionists and properly negotiate a settlement which would be in the interests of staff and those claimants that our members help, day in, day out.”

More than 90 per cent voted to strike on a 71 per cent turnout.

The dramatic walkout comes as more than 50,000 people have signed a petition demanding an independent inquiry into deaths linked to the DWP.

The petition centres on the case of Jodey Whiting, who took her own life 15 days after her disability benefits were stopped for missing a work capability assessment when she was seriously ill.

Signatories believe Ms Whiting’s death was the “latest avoidable tragedy to be caused by the failings of the DWP.” 

The DWP has said it is “disappointed” by the strike and that the department had “apologised unreservedly for the failings in the case of Ms Whiting.”

There will be a PCS picket line at Millennium House in Stockport from 7.30am Tuedaday and Wednesday.