02.12.11
No deadline for pension talks
Public sector pension negotiations are continuing, with no set deadline for the conclusion of talks between Government and the unions.
The prime minister’s spokesman said yesterday: “We have not set a deadline.”
Ministers have warned that there will be no more funding in the pension reform, but that certain compromises would be available.
TUC leader, Brendan Barber, called on ministers to give the negotiations “real content” and some union members warned of further strikes in the new year if no progress was made.
Prime Minister David Cameron said that striking while negotiations were still ongoing was ‘irresponsible’.
He conceded that the strike had a significant impact, after unions became enraged at his labeling of the industrial day of action on Wednesday as a ‘damp squib’, yet maintained that the damage to the public was limited.
Cameron said: “Obviously it was a big strike, but I think compared to what the unions had told us to expect – nine out of 10 schools shut and chaos at the borders – we didn't see that. Heathrow and Gatwick worked well, around 40% of schools were open, only a small number of jobcentres were closed.”
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