YORK and North Yorkshire could be brought to a standstill next week by the first national Civil Service strike in more than a decade.

Staff at Jobcentres, benefit offices, Customs & Excise, the Inland Revenue, Defra, HM Coastguard and English Heritage will be among those taking part in the one-day stoppage by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) on November 5.

Union members voted two-to-one in favour of the mass walkout, the biggest in a generation, which is in response to government plans to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs and potential changes to working terms and conditions.

The Pensions Centre, in Monks Cross, York, has already been earmarked for closure as part of Chancellor Gordon Brown's cost-cutting measure, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs. The centre only opened in September 2002.

Tanya Walker, PCS branch chairwoman for North Yorkshire, said she was "incredibly pleased" by the outcome of the strike ballot, which she said showed how unified union members were.

"We know that we have too much work and we are absolutely mystified at how the Chancellor believes cutting jobs will improve things. These are the people doing the critical work in this country. Without these backroom staff, all sorts of essential services could not be supplied to the general public."

Ms Walker said a multitude of business and individuals will be affected by the strike action, which would bring the country to a "standstill".

But Jackie Halls, of the Department of Work and Pensions, one of the affected sectors, said contingency plans would ensure payments to customers would be maintained.

"We are disappointed that PCS members have voted for a one-day strike at a time when we are still discussing the issues concerned with PCS officials," she said.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, October 26, 2004