WHITE collar staff working for the civil service in Dorset held a day of action on Friday against proposed cuts that would axe 100,000 jobs across the country.

In Poole they manned picket lines outside a branch of the Home Office and also took their protest to Poole Port later in the day.

Paul Wood, of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), said: "The government has proposed cuts to the civil service amounting to one in five jobs, and it is a decision made without regard for the need for services or staff."

Mr Wood believes the proposed job cuts are for purely financial reasons.

"The entire civil service is protesting to show how we feel. The PCS is in negotiation with the government and we believe taking this action today will show our support," said Mr Wood.

In Bournemouth, 600 civil servants working in job centres, benefit offices, and Customs and Excise went on strike.

The Inland Revenue at Holland House in Oxford Road saw a full picket line turn out.

Pickets also stood outside the Crown Prosecution Service offices, based in the same street.

Phil McCrow, a spokesman for the PCS, said: "We had a 40 per cent reduction in the overall workforce at the Inland Revenue, which is about 180 workers, and the members of the public we did speak to were all supportive."

South West organiser for the PCS Jessica Pearce said: "Our meetings have been fantastically well attended and we've been supported by members of the CWU, the FBU, Unison and the NUT."

She added: "It's the only strike we've got planned but there could well be further action in the New Year.

"Hopefully we have shown people that we are not just faceless bureaucrats and that we provide essential services.

"We will continue to lobby MPs and obtain petitions. We do not want this to be an end to negotiations."

Elsewhere in Dorset, a picket line was in place outside the main gates to Blandford Camp.

First published: November 6