Two Whitehall unions have fallen out over the continuing pay and conditions dispute in the Department for Work and Pensions.

The divisions followed a ballot of members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union which found that 97.7 per cent of them lacked confidence in senior Whitehall managers.

But the FDA, which represents senior civil and public servants including many of the managers under fire from the PCS, accused the rival union of engaging in "cheap and divisive" attacks.

The PCS had organised the ballot of staff in Jobcentres, benefit offices, the Pension Service and the Child Support Agency ahead of a two day strike which is due to begin on Thursday.

It will be the third strike in the continuing dispute over what the PCS sees as a discriminatory bonus scheme and low pay in the DWP.

A union statement said the "overwhelming vote illustrates staff's anger" over senior management's approach to the negotiations.

"Members have sent a clear message that they no longer have any confidence in their senior management's bullying and belligerent approach," said general secretary Mark Serwotka.

"Blindly imposing pay deals and bonus schemes, which set staff against one another and presenting fait accompli closures and job cuts is no way to treat a workforce dedicated to helping some of the most vulnerable in society.

"It is time that government intervened to swiftly restore staff's confidence."

The PCS said it would write to work and pensions secretary Andrew Smith asking for him to "intervene swiftly to restore staff's confidence in senior management".

But the department said it was committed to good industrial relations and was "disappointed" with the PCS's course of action.

"We have a major change programme to deliver and generally we have a constructive relationship with our trade unions - we would like PCS to be among them," added a DWP spokesman.

Union split

Responding to Tuesday's developments, the FDA criticised the PCS's "divisive and counterproductive" tactics.

Jonathan Baume, FDA general secretary, described himself as "disappointed" with the ballot.

He had previously written to Serwotka calling on the PCS to scrap its plans for the vote.

"The FDA shares with the PCS a range of concerns about issues currently under negotiation in the DWP," said Baume.

"However, for the PCS to attack senior civil servants, including fellow trade unionists, in a department in this way is not the action of a responsible trade union.

"The PCS should recognise that all senior civil servants and other senior managers work to deliver the policies of the elected government of the day, and must work within the financial constraints that are set by ministers.

"Whatever the personal views of any civil servant, this is their duty."

Baume added that the issues facing the DWP, including job cuts, were likely to effect senior staff as much as those in more junior posts.

"These difficult times require a mature and intelligent collective response, not a resort to cheap and divisive attacks on 'senior management' who, in most cases, are facing the same difficulties and threats," added Baume.

"The ballot material issued by PCS to its members included attacks on the pay levels and numbers of senior managers. This is unacceptable. The policy of a responsible trade union should be fair pay for staff at all levels."