CIVIL servants in a government department are to strike in a dispute over office closures, recruitment and attendance policies.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said more than 1,100 of its members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take industrial action on September 1.

Smaller groups of union members will strike from September 2 to 25.

The union said it is campaigning to halt several office closures, as well as address other issues, including remote working.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Office closures do nothing to serve the department’s goal of tackling regional inequalities.

“Ministers will see staff speak with their feet when they return from recess.

“Senior management have been clear — they will not seek to resolve this dispute without ministerial direction.”

An MHCLG spokesperson said it has engaged “extensively” with unions and staff to resolve the dispute, and “does not believe the current action is an appropriate response to the issues raised.”

“The approach to office attendance is replicated across the Civil Service and has not changed since early 2024,” they said.