ABOUT 300 workers staged a walkout at a Wrexham tax office to protest against cuts.

The half-day strike was part of national action by civil service union Public Commercial Services Union (PCS).

It was staged to disrupt the start of the new tax year and introduction of PAYE real-time information. The workers were also protesting against planned job cuts, pension changes and frozen pay.

A picket line was set up at the Plas Gororau HMRC offices on Ellice Way in Wrexham Technology Park in the morning, and workers staged a walk-in at 1pm.

PCS branch secretary Steve Ryan said: “We had a turn out of about 80 per cent which wasn’t bad at all for a half day picket line.

“The (UK) government are planning to close our enquiry offices by 2014.

“That will have a massive effect on jobs and our ability to serve the public.

“It’s part of an ongoing dispute about jobs, pensions and the pay freeze.”

The strike follows a walkout by PCS members in other government employers on Friday and is part of a three-month campaign over cuts to pay, pensions and conditions, which started with a national strike on budget day on March 20.

A week-long series of walkouts across various parts of the Home Office and former UK Border Agency are planned for a fortnight’s time.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “These strikes are part of an ongoing campaign of industrial action and protests to cause disruption for the government at key times and to put pressure on ministers who are refusing to even talk to us.”

He added: “Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on but, instead of rewarding them, the government is imposing cuts to their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their basic working conditions. “