Ealing tax workers begin three-day strike over office closure plans

The workers at International House, the only remaining tax office near Heathrow, could see their office close as early as 2020, putting many at risk of redundancy.

Closing the office is part of plans started by HMRC in 2015 for 90pc of all tax offices to be closed, to which the union remains totally opposed.

PCS union general secretary Mark Serwotka, who addressed striking workers, said:  “This is a significant escalation of our campaign and we are not ruling out balloting other offices.

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“Ministers need to understand the strength of feeling across tax offices up and down the country and finally halt this deeply unpopular office closure programme.”

An HMRC spokesman said: “We do understand these are difficult changes for some of our colleagues but are disappointed that PCS members at our Ealing office have voted to take strike action.

“While we expect the majority of our people in Ealing will be able to move, everyone will have the opportunity of a face-to-face meeting, as part of our usual process for office closures, to discuss the support they might need to help them make the move.

“For those unable to move, we will 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.”