A strike by public sector workers over increases to their pension contributions is set to go ahead this autumn.
On the last day (14 September) of the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), union leaders agreed to start striking on 30 November if the government failed to negotiate on the changes to public sector pensions.
Unions GMB, Unison and Unite all gave formal notice of ballot action. Several others, including the Fire Brigades Union, the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), and the senior civil service union FDA, also indicated that they would be balloting.
Addressing delegates at the conference Brendan Barber, general secretary at TUC, said: “The TUC and unions are committed to continuing the talks with the government, and with the relevant employers in each of the separate major public service pension schemes, but the government is urged to bring new proposals to the table urgently to make progress possible.
"Today’s meeting also agreed, however, given the failure of the government to engage properly in the negotiations, to step up the campaign and to hold a first day of action on Wednesday 30 November.”
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