Union Warns Of Massive Wave Of Strikes

Britain's biggest wave of industrial action since the 1926 general strike will be sparked by Government pension reforms, the largest public sector union's leader has said.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison , issued the warning as angry unions threatened to walk away from talks over plans to pay more for reduced entitlements.

He told the Guardian newspaper: "It will be the biggest since the general strike. It won't be the miners' strike. We are going to win."

It comes after Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told public sector workers it would be a "colossal mistake" to reject a deal that was the best they could hope for.

Under the reforms, the general retirement age in the public sector will rise from 60 to 66, in line with the state pension.

The changes will also see public sector pensions based on career-average earnings rather than final salaries.

And also prompting fury was the plan to increase contributions by an average 3.2%.

The Government says those on the lowest incomes will not have to pay any more and that benefits for low and middle earners would remain roughly the same.

Union chiefs have accused Mr Alexander of trying to scupper negotiations by revealing details of the Government's stance to the media.

And with the GMB threatening to pull out of talks, Mr Prentis warned of "rolling action over an indefinite period" until workers get their message across.

"I strongly believe that one day of industrial action will not change anyone's mind in government," he said.

"We want to move towards a settlement. The purpose of industrial action is not industrial action, it is to get an agreement that is acceptable and long-lasting.

"But we are prepared for rolling action over an indefinite period. This coalition has got to open its eyes and see that in just reacting to a Daily Mail view of the public sector they are walking into a trap of their own making."

Mr Prentis, whose union has more than 1.3m members, added that Government cuts were hitting public services hardest.

Up to 750,000 teachers and civil servants are planning to walk out on June 30, during what is being labelled a 'summer of strikes'.

The 1926 general strike - an unsuccessful attempt to prevent miners' pay being reduced - lasted nine days and saw around 1.7m people walk out.