MORE than 150 tax office staff at International House in Ealing High Street are due to strike from midday next Wednesday over plans to close the office.

They are all members of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents workers across Government departments.

HM Revenue and Customs is planning to close the office as part of a move to create 13 regional centres.

PCS spokesman Mark Benjamin said “We are the nearest office to Heathrow and, in this time of uncertainty over Brexit, the department should be allowing local staff to continue to offer a first-class service to the public in west London and beyond.”

Staff may have to relocate to a new centre in Stratford, which is yet to be built.

Next Wednesday, the strikers will be joined by PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka, who is currently president of the TUC.

An HMRC spokesperson said: "HMRC is transforming the way it operates into a more highly-skilled operation offering modern, digital services to create a tax authority fit for the future.

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“We want to keep as many people as possible and expect the vast majority of the current workforce will either work in a regional centre or see out their career in an HMRC office.

“While we expect the majority of our people in Ealing will be able to move, everyone will have the opportunity of a 1-2-1 to  discuss their personal circumstances and to establish what support they need."

An HMRC spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that PCS members have voted to take strike action. HMRC is transforming the way it operates into a more highly-skilled operation, offering modern, digital services to create a tax authority fit for the future.

“We want to keep as many people as possible and expect the vast majority of the current workforce will either work in a regional centre or see out their career in an HMRC office.

“While we expect the majority of our people in Ealing will be able to move, everyone will have the opportunity of a one-to-one to  discuss personal circumstances and to establish what support they need.

"For those people unable to move, we will always work with them to find alternative solutions, including identifying opportunities at our Inland Pre-Clearance site at Hayes and in other government departments such as Border Force and the Department for Work and Pensions.”