Tax office workers across the district are taking part in strike action today in protest at what unions have described as a punitive new sickness absence policy.

The Public Commercial Services Union (PCS) is in dispute with HMRC over new attendance management rules introduced in February.

The policy reduces the time allowed for sickness absence before management action is taken from ten days to five days, and from five occasions to three occasions in any 12-month period.

Some staff at the Centenary Court office, in St Blaise Way, Bradford, and their colleagues in the Shipley tax office, are among those backing the national industrial action.

Beth Baker, the union’s Shipley branch secretary, said the new rules would put pressure on already-overworked staff.

Read Wednesday's T&A for the full story