A UNION representing workers at the Newport passport office is to ballot its members nationwide for strike action over the government's planned closure.

A total of 3000 Public and Commercial Services union members will be asked next week whether they want to take industrial action over the planned cuts to the Identity and Passport Service.

That's despite a consultation continuing between the union and the IPS, which PCS have described as a 'sham', over the plan to shut the Newport regional office, most of the passport interview offices and further expected cuts.

Meanwhile members at the Newport office have told union officials they want to bring the fight to London.

  Members will be asked whether they want to strike and to take action short of a strike. PCS is pushing for yes votes to both.

Alan Brown, secretary of the union's IPS group, said ballot papers will be sent out on Wednesday (Nov 24) to be returned by December 8.

He said if the union votes to strike, action could be taken before January, when the consultation ends.

  "We think there hasn't been meaningful consultation. It's been a sham so far," Mr Brown said.

  "Every single excuse we've been able to rubbish and almost on a weekly basis they are coming back to us with different excuses for the office closures."

He said members from the Newport office were frustrated with the lack of progress and had approached the union themselves over when industrial action may be taken.

Immigration minister Damian Green's no-show at the office since the closure announcement has also angered workers, said Mr Brown.

"They made the decision that if he will not come to Newport we will take bus loads of employees from the office to London to demand answers," he said.

A march through London, similar to the one in Newport which attracted more than 1,000 people and perhaps linked to strike action, may be on the cards, but the nature of the action is yet to be decided.

The move has won the support of both Newport East MP Jessica Morden and her assembly constituency colleague John Griffiths.

Ms Morden said: "I know the union feel they are getting nowhere with management, but the government can solve this now by reversing this unfair decision."

She said the ballot was the right thing for the union to do.

  Mr Griffiths added: "It seems absolutely right that PCS ballot their members for a strike.  "There doesn't seem to be any other way of getting through to the government on this issue."

AN IPS spokesman said the organisation is disappointed by PCS's decision to ballot on industrial action while a formal consultation process is still ongoing.

"We have been in discussions with the union for some time now to allow them to shape the proposals and we are committed to continuing the process of consultation," he said.

"Operational improvements mean we have too many staff and too much office space and our proposals would lead to savings of £50m during the next four years, while still providing a highly secure passport and an excellent service to customers."