Public sector: Million staff 'to go on strike over pensions'

By Daniel Martin

Last updated at 9:06 AM on 14th June 2011

• Unison set to hold biggest ever strike ballot
• Walk outs could halt council and NHS services
• Showdown with ministers set for June 27
  

'Autumn of discontent': 1.2million members of Dave Prentis's Unison are set to strike over pension reforms

More than a million public sector workers could strike for weeks on end in protest at plans to slash their pensions, a union chief warned yesterday.

The leader of the largest union said it was a question of ‘when, not if’ hospital and council staff begin what he called a ‘sustained’ period of industrial action.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said its 1.2million members would vote on industrial action over the next few months in what he described as the biggest union ballot ever held in Britain.

It could herald an ‘autumn of discontent’ which could bring council and NHS services to a halt.

The union, which represents staff in the NHS and councils, is angry about proposed changes to gold-plated public sector pensions.

The Coalition wants to reform the schemes to bring them into line with those that normally exist in the private sector.

Under the changes, workers will pay more into the schemes and receive less in retirement.

Mr Prentis warned: ‘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 action throughout our public services to prevent destruction of our pension schemes. It will be the biggest ever industrial action taken in this country.’

Describing what is to come as ‘massive industrial unrest’, he said: ‘It is very clear we are on a collision course unless the Government changes its policies.’

Mr Prentis said balloting on strike action could begin next month if the Coalition does not offer changes at a meeting on June 27.

'When, not if': A Unison strike could halt council and NHS services

Up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants are due to hold a one-day strike on June 30. Their unions will announce the results of ballots on the action today and tomorrow.

Unison is already balloting 30,000 workers for strikes in protest at spending cuts.

But Mr Prentis said longer strikes will follow in the autumn unless the pension reforms are watered down.

‘This union is on the road to industrial action,’ he said. ‘We intend to win the dispute.’

He accused ministers of trying to drive a wedge between public and private sector workers.

‘I’ve got no doubt that this is being done to get the public services in a state for wholesale privatisation, and I don’t think there are many people in the electorate who want their public services privatised,’ he said.

Gold plated: Unison members are furious about reforms to their pensions which will bring them into line with private sector offerings

Mr Prentis criticised Business Secretary Vince Cable, who last week warned unions he may be forced to restrict the right to strike if they take too much industrial action.

Last night Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: ‘This Government’s key priority is to ensure that public service pensions remain among the very best and that is why we are engaged in serious talks with the TUC.

‘We have entered into these talks in good faith and are totally committed to them – as we believe are the union representatives taking part, including Unison.’