Workers have voted for an all-out strike at the Office for National Statistics site in Titchfield. 

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at the Segensworth Road site voted to extend their long-running dispute over working conditions. 

The workers, along with their colleagues in Newport, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh, have been refusing to spend at least 40 per cent of their time in the office. 

They have been continuing to work from home since May and recently escalated the dispute by refusing to work overtime, out of hours and out of grade.

READ MORE: Titchfield ONS workers take industrial action over office work rule

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Up until now our members have been taking action short of a strike but today they’ve voted to escalate this, which could involve an all-out strike.

“Our industrial action has until now had no tangible impact on the ONS’ outputs – which was the point, because we said our members can work at home just as well, if not better, than being in the office – but that can change now we have authority to call a full strike any time in the next six months.

“If management wants to ensure the work at ONS remains unaffected, they must engage in meaningful talks with us to end this dispute.”

No strike dates have been announced but other action will continue in the meantime. 

An ONS spokesperson said: “We have robust plans in place and do not anticipate any disruption to key ONS publications.

“Nevertheless, we still believe firmly that a reasonable level of office attendance – in line with the wider Civil Service – is in the best interests of the ONS and of all our colleagues.

“Face-to-face interaction supports personal collaboration, learning and innovation."