CIVIL servants have gone on strike again in benefits offices and job centres throughout Halton.

Only skeleton staff were available to give a limited service on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, said Halton PCS branch secretary Dave Brown.

Union members picketed the benefits office on Kingsway in Widnes, Halton Lea Job Centre Plus and Castleview House in Runcorn.

Mr Brown said PCS were unhappy with the 'imposed' 2.6 per cent pay offer most members will receive from the Department of Work and Pensions, and the new performance related pay system.

He said: "We would like to see the performance related pay system scrapped.

"It's based on a quota system where only 25 per cent of people can get it.

"So irrespective of how someone has performed, they could be marked down because of the system"

The DWP said the department was 'entirely satisfied' that its new performance system is legal.

It said: "The DWP has a responsibility to provide its staff with an appraisal system and staff have a right to such a system."

David Wilkinson, PCS senior national officer said: "Strike action is not a step we take lightly, but members feel they have been left with no other option.

"The people on strike today are not faceless bureaucrats but real people doing vital jobs."