JOB CENTRE staff who handle calls from benefit claimants in Huddersfield went on strike today over “oppressive” working conditions and targets.

Workers at call centres in Dean Clough, Halifax, joined the one-day stoppage by an estimated 6,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union across 32 UK sites.

The action is the first since members went on strike last year against what they called “draconian conditions” that prevented them from providing the service callers needed and deserved.

The union has about 140 members at Dean Clough, with 350 at Sheffield and 270 at Grimsby.

The union said: “Despite negotiations and a review of services designed to ease the excessive target-driven culture, Jobcentre management is still refusing to give staff the flexibility they need to deal with enquiries fully and professionally.

“A shortage of staff is also adding to problems.”

It said some flexibility to the targets allowed for call handling times has been introduced, but had been set at arbitrary levels that favoured shorter calls over ones that might take a bit longer.

The union said this appeared to confirm fears that Jobcentre bosses were only interested in getting claimants off the phone rather than dealing with their enquiries properly.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “With unemployment remaining high and our economy in the grip of recession, it is shameful that Jobcentre bosses are still refusing to let their staff provide the kind of help and advice that people need.

“These call centres provide a vital lifeline. Enquiries are often complicated and people struggling to find their way around the benefits system are often understandably desperate and upset, but staff are being forced to end calls as quickly as possible just to meet an artificial target.

“Our members care about the services they provide and they want to be able to help people properly, not have to fob them off.”

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “We are disappointed that some staff are taking industrial action, which we think is unnecessary.

“We have gone to great lengths to resolve issues with unions.

“Jobcentres and benefit payments will be unaffected and claimants will be able to access some information online, so any impact will be limited.”