13.06.11
Long-term industrial action planned over pensions
NHS workers could join other public sector workers planning “long-term industrial
action” over pay and pensions, according to Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison.
He said that more than a million public sector workers could join walk-outs over changes to pensions. Ministers are not expected to give enough ground to placate unions unhappy with the changes at a meeting on June 28, after which ballots on strike action are expected to be issued.
Prentis said the “perfect storm” of pay freezes and pension cost rises could see public sector workers’ pay effectively cut by 10%.
He said at a press conference: “If we are prevented from reaching agreement we will move to a ballot in the summer or early autumn. It will not be one day of action - it will be long-term industrial action throughout all our public services to prevent destruction of our pension schemes.”
Separately, around 750,000 teachers and civil servants are already expected to strike on June 30.
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