Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) were on strike in Carlisle on Tuesday at the start of their two weeks of targeted strike action.

Staff who work at the Animal and Plant Health Agency at DEFRA in Carlisle have walked out as part of the PCS’ national campaign.

The dispute is over pay, pensions, job security and the redundancy scheme with the union calling on the government to enter negotiations to help avoid further strike action.

“The government has imposed a 2 per cent pay award this year and our claim is for 10 per cent in line with inflation” said PCS rep, David Niven.

“We don't like to cause disruption and we would like to get this dispute settled with the government, but they've made it clear that they're not prepared to put any more money on the table.

“We can't just accept below inflation pay awards forever.

We've tried to negotiate, and the government are just not listening. Our members are suffering and have faced a decreasing value of pay year on year on year.

“We've faced real term pay cuts for over a decade which obviously has been exacerbated this year because of the cost-of-living crisis and the the high rate of inflation.”

PCS staff were joined by members of the University and College Union who are also taking strike action at the University of Cumbria and union rep, David Niven, said that workers have ‘had enough’.

“Workers have just simply had enough,” said Mr Niven.