WORKERS at the Rural Payments Agency in Workington have walked out on strike in what they call their campaign for 'decent pay, pensions justice, redundancy pay and job security'.

The chairperson of the PCS Defra North West and Cumbria branch has also warned that 'no one must underestimate' the resolve of the workers to get a 'fair settlement' as they start the two week action.

PCS members across the UK continue to be out in number on picket lines, as they have been over the past couple of weeks.

However members of the Rural Payments Agency in Workington have walked out today until January 13.

PCS Defra Group President Beth Wagg confirmed that the strike had been well supported, the strength of feeling shown by the fact that the majority of pickets at both sites had never been on strike before.

The two week strike in RPA began on Tuesday, January 3 involving up to 630 staff nationally.

25 members in Workington and 7 in Newcastle stood in driving wind and rain to support the picket lines.

READ MORE: Union boss warns travellers could face months of disruption

Garry Humphrey, chairperson PCS Defra North West and Cumbria branch said: "After more than 10 years of below inflation pay rises, members have decided enough is enough.

"Over 40,000 of our colleagues have to use foodbanks to survive and over 45,000 are on means-tested benefits because of the real term pay cuts we have suffered.

"We have had hundreds of new members join since the strike was first announced. We have received the lowest pay offer of just 2 per cent.

"We have no independent pay review panel. This shows that the government is using these in other sectors as a smoke screen for insultingly low pay offers.

"With over 95 per cent of members eligible to strike doing so, colleagues are determined to see this out. We will stand up for ourselves to get a decent pay offer that we need and deserve.

"The government have of yet decided not to engage in any meaningful negotiations. We therefore made the decision to escalate the strike from January, 3. This brings hundreds of more members into the dispute.

"No one must underestimate our resolve to get a fair settlement for Rural Payment Agency workers."

A Rural Payments Agency spokesperson said: “We have established and tested plans to continue to deliver our services to farmers in the event of any disruption, such as industrial action.

“The majority of farmers have already received their BPS payments and we are maintaining our key services, including avian influenza reporting, livestock traceability, and payments to farmers for environmental actions.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely.”

READ MORE: PCS Strike: 100,000 civil servants to go on strike