A large number of our members come into work from the farming community

Caroline Watson, PCS

Caroline Watson, the Carlisle branch secretary of the PCS told BBC News Online: "People came into Defra from other departments on 8 June when MAFF was re-organised.

"Staff who have worked for the same length of time as their new colleaues, and are doing a job on the same grade, are paid �3,500 pounds less.

Minimum wage

"We have a large number of staff here who are on the are on the national minimum wage and who have to supplement their salaries with second jobs or with benefits.

"People have a vision that civil servants are very well paid and they are not."

Across the UK there are about 3,000 union members who are former MAFF employees.

Foot-and-mouth

Up to 1,000 of them work in Cumbria, where farmers have been severely affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Ms Watson is keen to stress that farmers' subsidies will not be affected by the action.

She said: "We are not targeting foot-and-mouth control centres at all.

"Obviously we have members there who are former MAFF employees... and if they wish to take action then they are free to do so, but we will not be picketing the foot-and-mouth control centres.

"Some members... are saying they will write to the minister instead as they don't want to let the farmers down.

'Good for Cumbria'

"A large number of our members come into work from the farming community, and they realise that Defra is a big employer in Cumbria.

"If 1,000 Cumbrian employees earn better money it is good for Cumbria."

Three hundred and fifty people work for Defra at Eden Bridge House in Carlisle.

About 650 more are employed on sites at Workington, Penrith and Kendal.

They are responsible for ensuring subsidy payments to farmers.

A spokesperson for Defra said: "Management and the unions are still in discussion about assimilating the pay differences."