Public sector strikes: "absolutely no chance" of pensions deal

An estimated two million public sector workers are still set to strike on Wednesday after talks between the government and trade unions stalled. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis has admitted that there is "absolutely no chance" of a pensions deal before the walk-out, prompting what could be the "biggest action since the 1926 general strike". 

This comes after TUC leader Brendan Barber admitted on Sunday that the chances of ministers stopping the public sector strikes were “unlikely”. 

Mr Barber claimed that the Government “deliberately misrepresented the generosity of their proposals” after Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander asserted that there was “no more money on the table” to resolve the disagreement over public sector pensions.

“On some of the key issues involved in this difficult issue they [the Government] have been simply unwilling to reconsider their position at all, that has made it extremely difficult,” said Mr Barber. “No-one is taking this action lightly, we have been trying to resolve those problems through negotiations for almost the whole of this year.

“This will be the biggest strike for a generation,” he added. “The sense of frustration and the sense of real injustice and anger is enormously strong across a number of unions who have never taken action before.”

The breakdown in negotiations leaves the planned public sector strikes on Wednesday certain to go ahead, with an estimated two million workers walking out of schools, hospitals and airports. There will also be hits to a range of public sector services across the UK. Disputes initially erupted after the Government said it would raise the retirement age to 68, whilst increasing pensions contributions from 6.4% to 9.6% of a public sector worker’s salary.

“The strike will go ahead,” said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis. “It is a last resort but dinner ladies, teaching assistants and nurses will be among millions of public sector workers walking out on Wednesday.”

“We are willing to negotiate any time, any place, for pensions that are secure and sustainable and give people dignity in their retirement,” he added. Danny Alexander said that the pensions deal offered by the Government was a “good one” and that the union leaders were marching members “up the hill”.

“I think that we absolutely can get to an agreement on the future of public service pensions,” he told the Guardian. Mr Alexander confirmed that the Government could renege on an improved offer to public sector workers if a deal with trade unions isn’t settled.

“I reserve the right to take those enhancements off the table if an agreement can't be reached,” he said. “I don't want to do that. I don't want to be in that position. I want to be in a position where we have got an agreement.”