SWANSEA'S tax office workers picketed outside their building this morning in protest at cuts to frontline services.
Union leaders said planned Government cuts meant the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office in High Street, Swansea, would go from being open five days a week to three.
Similarly, in Llanelli the enquiry centre based in Llanelli Job Centre, which is currently open each weekday, offering face to face tax advice, is expected to drop down to only two days a week.
Steve Donoghue, HMRC West Wales secretary for the PCS union said: said "Enquiry centre users often travel miles to visit the office to sort out their tax problems. We are worried that when they get here, they will find it closed, and have to come back another day."
"We are also concerned that with opening times reduced, customers may have to wait some time for an appointment. Many of these people rely on tax credits or are pensioners and cannot afford to wait or spend more to get here. They will be inconvenienced by these plans."
As well as changes to tax office opening hours, PCS also held the protest to highlight the effects of public sector cuts across the board.
The union also said it was particularly concerned about the effects the cuts would have on women, which made up two-thirds of the public sector workforce.
Mr Donoghue added: "We have put forward realistic and achievable alternatives to the government's 'culling agenda' which include properly resourced tax offices, to further reduce the �120 billion tax gap.
"Closing the tax gap will bring in money that will meet the current economic deficit and provide funding for further investment in much needed public services across the UK."
helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk
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