Workers in job centres and benefit offices across the UK may go on strike, after overwhelmingly rejecting a pay offer.

Last week, a 2.6% pay increase was imposed on workers before a ballot had even been completed. The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents job centre staff, said the offer was rejected by almost 94% of its members.

The union said that the offer was worth less than £1 a day, once tax and National Insurance contributions had been taken into consideration. A bonus scheme was also criticised because it would penalise staff from taking maternity or paternity leave or take time off to attend to sick relatives.

The union’s executive committee will meet this week to decide its next move, which could be to hold a ballot for industrial action.

Several workers have already staged unofficial walkouts – in Glasgow and Basildon – after the pay rise was imposed last week.