JOIN us on the picket line! That was the message to civil servants at a Public and Commercial Services Union meeting in Hampshire after the government announced that they will slash more than 100,000 civil service jobs.

Top of the agenda were plans to slash jobs at the Office of National Statistics based in Titchfield.

Scores of people turned out at the meeting last night to hear union general secretary Mark Serwotka outline the fierce line of action the union will take against the government's shock statement in July.

They will start this week with the biggest national PCS strike the country has seen in 12 years.

Thousands are expected to join picket lines on the nation's streets on Friday. One demonstration will be at Fareham Town Hall in protest at Chancellor Gordon Brown's plans to cut 104,000 civil service jobs by 2008.

At the ONS 100 people are set to lose their jobs and 200 others will be relocated to Newport.

There are plans to transfer another 100 jobs from London to Hampshire.

The region's Department for Work and Pensions, based in Fareham, is to lose 70 jobs by next summer and the Ministry of Defence spanning Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham could see 750 civil service jobs affected by a future privatisation scheme.

Mr Serwotka said it will mean people will be transferred to call centres instead of being able to deal with civil servants face-to-face.

He said: "We are responding with the biggest attack the civil service has ever seen.

"On Friday we will show the government the importance of what we do. When people can't get their benefits or go to a museum or gallery and when airports are disrupted - then people will see just how important the civil service is.

"I am urging the people in the south-east to come forward and say enough is enough.

"Join us on the picket line and show your support."

Rod Bacon, union vice-chairman for the East Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch of the DWP at Fareham, said: "We will be on the picket lines on Friday outside Fareham Town Hall.

"We are not just fighting for our own jobs, but for services to the public as well."

Mr Serwotka will give a talk at Southampton City Technology College tonight at 7.30pm.