More than 1,180 civil servants in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will begin strike action on Monday, September 1, in protest against office closures and changes to recruitment and attendance policies.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) say the reforms are being pushed through without proper consultation. The union also claims that Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has declined repeated requests to meet and discuss the proposals.

A second wave of industrial action will follow, with over 170 additional staff walking out between September 2 and 25. Meanwhile, other employees will continue ongoing action short of a strike

The Public and Commercial Services Union wrote on its website, their members want:

• alternatives from the department to retain a presence in the locations due to close (in Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle, Sheffield, Truro, and Warrington) while also guaranteeing that those in offices that have closed suffer no net loss of income or time ahead of these alternatives being developed

• a new recruitment policy to prevent deliberate de-staffing of offices and arbitrary differential treatment

• changes to office attendance policies to give staff enforceable rights, to improve flexibility for staff, including parents, carers or those experiencing financial hardship, and commit to default remote working for staff who need and request it, such as those living with a disability

• guarantees that no member of staff can be disciplined or suffer detriment on the grounds of office attendance, provided they attend an office for at least 40% of their working days (proportionately reduced for those with exceptions or contractual variations)

The general secretary of PCS 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. Angela Rayner talks the talk regarding workers’ rights, she must now walk the walk and intervene to resolve this dispute."