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Up to three million public sector workers to take part in massive strike on November 30 over pension reforms
U.K. (23 September 2011) – British unions have called a day of strike action on November 30, warning that Britain faces the "biggest mobilization in a generation" unless the government rethinks "hugely damaging" changes to public sector pension plans.
The Conservative government led by David Cameron has proposed major reforms to public pension plans which will mean public sector workers will have to work longer, contribute more to their own pension plan and take a lower income in retirement
Up to three million public sector workers are expected to take part in industrial action, with at least 14 unions committed to strikes over government pension reforms.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) general secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "The intention will be to take the call for pensions justice for both public and private sector workers to every corner of the land on that day in the biggest trade union mobilization in a generation."
Barber confirmed that the 24-hour walkout – potentially the biggest since Britain’s 1926 General Strike – could signal the beginning of a wave of strike action as individual unions and groups of public sector workers mounted their own campaigns across the UK.
"Further consideration is being given to what further action may be appropriate beyond the day of action if progress towards a settlement is not secured," he said.
The country's three largest trade unions – UNISON, Unite and the GMB – announced their decisions to serve notice of strike ballots over pension reforms at the TUC conference held earlier this month, calling for strike action to be co-ordinated in an attempt to maximize pressure on the government.
Dave Prentis, the general secretary of 1.3-million member UNISON, the country's largest public sector union, has given formal notice of industrial action ballots to 9,000 employers.
He said striking was the "last thing" members wanted to do, but the time had come to make a stand against government attempts to get its "pound of flesh" from workers by seeking to bring in new pension schemes with "far worse benefits".
"We've been patient, we've co-operated – but there comes a time when we say enough is enough because, if we don't, they'll be back for more," he said. "It's a decision we don't take lightly and the stakes are high – higher than ever before."
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