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Workers in a Universal Credit call centre will walk out for two days after 'running out of patience'.

Around 200 staff members will strike after being balloted by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

It comes as the union complains that huge workloads are hindering its members' ability to process the cases of some of society's most vulnerable.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The decision to take strike action has not been taken lightly by our members in Universal Credit. They do their best to help claimants get the support they need.

"However, due to cuts, big increases in workloads and victimising reps, they have run out of patience with management.

"The DWP need to stop attacking trade unionists and properly negotiate a settlement which would be in the interests of staff and those claimants that our members help, day in, day out."

The walkout will take place at the contact centre in Stockport, Greater Manchester, next Tuesday and Wednesday.

It comes after two walkouts at centres in Wolverhampton and Walsall earlier this year over similar issues.

The union is demanding another 100 staff are recruited in Stockport to deal with increasing workloads, and an end to staff cuts.

More than 2million people are now on Universal Credit ahead of the final stage of moving existing claimants to the benefit, which begins next summer.

The union said staffing at the centre has been in decline since the flagship benefit was introduced three years ago.

But the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) told The Mirror it is confident that staffing levels are sufficient.

A DWP spokesman said: "We are disappointed that the PCS in Stockport has taken this course of action. As with previous strikes, our contingency plans will ensure our service is maintained throughout.

"We greatly value the work that our colleagues do and we are committed to supporting them in their roles, including by monitoring staff levels and making sure their caseloads are manageable."

The DWP said it will monitor staffing and is holding regular meetings with the union locally to attempt to resolve the issues.