10.10.11
Unison announces ballot over pensions
Unison has announced the biggest ever ballot for industrial action, with over one million public sector workers making the decision whether to strike over pensions. It is the first time the union has balloted all of its members, and is expecting a large ‘yes’ vote.
Probation officers, nurses, teaching assistants, hospital cleaners and social workers will be among those balloted. The results are due on November 3, and the TUC day of action is November 30. Talks have been on-going with the Government for the past eight months, but little progress has been made.
The Government is proposing changes to public sector pensions which would mean raising the average age of retirement and contributions increasing. They state that this reform is necessary to support an ageing population.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis told a news conference: “We are doing everything possible to get a high turnout and we are confident of a big yes vote. This is a fight not just about whether it is right to increase contributions, but it's a fight for the survival of public service pension schemes."
Other unions are also balloting their members, meaning that this could be the biggest day of industrial action in the UK.
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