Hampshire workers at the Office for National Statistics are set to take industrial action in a dispute over office work. 

Those working for the ONS in Titchfield will join other colleagues across the country in refusing to work overtime starting on August 27. 

It follows a refusal to follow the organisation's instructions to spend at least 40 per cent of their time in the office. 

Workers have not been abiding by this rule since May. 

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The Public and Commercial Services Union says this is in opposition to mandatory attendance, adding that staff already willingly spend more than 40 per cent of their working time in the office.

General secretary Fran Heathcote said: “ONS consistently relies on goodwill to remain functional but managers have themselves shown little goodwill by forcing staff back into the office.

“This new wave of industrial action will cause disruption in a way working from home has not.”

In total, 1,200 of the union's members are due to take industrial action, based across Titchfield, Newport, South Wales, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh.

A spokesperson for the ONS said: “We have robust plans in place and do not anticipate any disruption to key ONS publications.

“Nevertheless, we still believe firmly that a reasonable level of office attendance – in line with the wider Civil Service – is in the best interests of the ONS and of all our colleagues.

“Face-to-face interaction supports personal collaboration, learning and innovation.”