In the region of 100,000 civil servants are geared to stage a 24-hour strike next month - as a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions is escalated to the next stage.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has today announced that members in 124 Government departments and other bodies are set to walk out on February 1.
The union also detailed that the action will come as the largest civil service strike in years, signalling a 'significant escalation' of industrial action following a month of strikes from members with the likes of Border Forces.
Read more: North East Ambulance Service urges public to use service "wisely" during strikes
The PA News Agency reports that the stoppage will fall hand in hand with the TUC’s 'protect the right to strike' day - an announced reaction to the Government's legislation on minimum service levels through industrial action.
An extra 33,000 PCS members across five other departments - inclusive of HMRC - are next week seeing further ballots to join the union's national strike action.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “During the last month, when thousands of PCS members across a range of departments took sustained industrial action, the Government said it had no money.
"But it managed to find millions of pounds to spend on managers and military personnel in a failed attempt to cover the vital work our members do.
“We warned the Government our dispute would escalate if they did not listen – and we’re as good as our word.”
Read next:
- Ambulance strikes will go ahead on Wednesday after talks fall through with no deal
Why NHS ambulance staff in North East are going on strike, pay offer and emergency cover plans
- 'I know how dedicated you are' - North East public sends messages of support to striking NHS workers
- Ambulance service strikes result of 'really dangerous situation' warns County Durham paramedic
