Mass pension strike planned

Ballot papers are being prepared for millions of public sector workers to launch a series of strikes over pensions, starting with a day of action on 30 November.

The row is over Government plans to make public staff pay more, and work for longer, for their pensions.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary, Unison, said: “We will be standing shoulder to shoulder with unions across the public sector on 30 November, when the country will see the biggest industrial action in a generation.

“This will be a day of industrial action but also a day to draw communities together, in opposition to the government’s cuts. This is not about public versus private, but about fairness and preventing poverty in old age.

“We have reached the 11th hour – it is time the Government entered into serious negotiations. After eight months of talks they have failed to move closer to an agreement. I have always said that I want to reach a deal, and we are willing to negotiate any time, anywhere - but now is the time to take a stand.”