Benefits staff will strike for two days next week in a dispute over working conditions.

Public and Commercial Services union workers will walk out next Monday as staff demand action on lack of resources, unfair targets and staff shortages as they struggle to implement the UK Government’s Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith's flagship Universal Credit policy.

The roll out has been plagued by delay and controversy and allegations of cash squandered on IT equipment.

The union complains of an “oppressive management culture” and staff shortages.

Several hundred staff in Glasgow will strike with colleagues in Bolton in Greater Manchester where the bulk of telephone and on-line Universal Credit work is conducted, on Monday and Tuesday.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The introduction of universal credit has been a textbook example of how not to reform essential public services, and the DWP's handling of every aspect of it has been disastrous.

"These harsher working conditions must be withdrawn, they simply heap more pressure on staff who have battled against poor IT, inadequate training and a lack of resources."

The staff are in dispute over new working conditions being imposed, including predetermined start and finish times and restrictions on flexible working.

The union said in a recent ballot, 84% voted for strikes and 90% voted for other forms of industrial action on a 56% turnout.

The two-day strike will be followed by industrial action short of a strike until mid-August.