ANGRY civil servants at Crewe's Inland Revenue office are going on strike after being told they must commute to Liverpool or face the dole.

Thirty-four staff at Crewe House in Oak Street, Crewe, will take industrial action on Monday. The news comes just a week after staff in Northwich were told they also face the same scenario.

The Crewe workers have vowed to stop Government plans to move them to a tax credit call centre at Queen's Dock in Liverpool by striking.

John Ellis, of the Public Commercial Services Union (PCSU), says there was an overwhelming 'yes' vote for action.

He added: 'A decision to move the staff has been taken without any consultation. It is also intended to relocate other tax work in Crewe and Nantwich to Cardiff or Sefton.

'We cover six areas including Crewe and Northwich which are all affected.

'We held a ballot on strike action in London on Monday and out of the 2,500 workers who voted only 18 said no to industrial action.'

Negotiations with senior management in London over the future of jobs on-going.

But Mr Ellis fears it may not only have an impact on the 34 instructed to move so far, but could mean the closure of the Oak Street office.

He added: 'Appeals against the transfers have been upheld for now. However, it is still the employer's intention to strip the work out of these offices which means jobs and the viability of the office is under threat.'