Public sector workers stage strike in pensions dispute

Up to 400,000 public sector workers are expected to join a 24-hour UK-wide strike in a dispute with the government over proposed pension changes.

Unions say the changes will leave their members paying more and working longer for lower pensions. But the government says current pension schemes are unfair - and unaffordable because people are living longer. Meanwhile, about 20,000 off-duty police officers are expected at a rally in London to protest against cuts. Among the public sector workers taking part in the 24-hour strike are civil servants, NHS workers - including paramedics - border force staff and lecturers. Gail Cartmail, from the Unite union, which represents NHS workers and others, said members had rejected the proposals in a vote "by a very large majority - 94%". "What the proposals mean is they will have to pay more, work longer and get less and they have said, by this very large majority, enough is enough," she told BBC News. But Conservative party chairman Lady Warsi told the BBC workers were being asked to "to work a little bit longer and to pay a bit more but they will be guaranteed a pension which is index-linked and inflation proof". "I'm disappointed that a handful of unions are striving to carry on with union action which is going to benefit no-one and is going to inconvenience the public." There were two days of industrial action last year in the dispute over public-sector pensions, including what unions called the biggest strike in a generation on 30 November. About 30 unions' involvement that day caused disruption, including the closure of thousands of schools; postponement of thousands of hospital operations and tens of thousands of appointments, and the cancellation of all bus and train services in Northern Ireland. Police rally The industrial action on Thursday is expected to be much smaller than November's protest. The unions taking part are: the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the largest civil service trade union; Unite, representing NHS workers, Ministry of Defence firefighters and others; the University and College Union; the Immigration Services Union; Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and the Northern Ireland Public Services Alliance. In a central London march, thousands of off-duty police officers will protest against cuts to police funding and proposed changes to pay, pensions and working conditions. It is expected to be the biggest police rally since a protest in 2008 against a pay award imposed by the then Labour home secretary Jacqui Smith. Police officers are prevented by law from taking industrial action. The Police Federation, which organised the rally, says it wants to send a message to the Government that "enough is enough". Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote Ministers have consistently refused to negotiate with us ” Mark Serwotka General secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union The government's controversial Public Service Pensions Bill featured in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, and will be considered in Parliament. The proposals seek substantially increased employee contributions and would raise the retirement age in line with the state pension age, which will eventually rise to 68. Final-salary schemes will also eventually be replaced by less generous career-average schemes. 'Among the best' The government argues that at a time when private-sector final-salary schemes have been closing and returns from defined contribution schemes are falling, "unreformed gold-plated" public-sector pensions are unfair and unaffordable. Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the strike action was "futile" and pension talks would not be reopened. "Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future." He added: "Most staff on low and middle incomes will receive a pension at retirement as good as what they expect today, and for many it will be even better." Mr Maude said that "rigorous contingency planning" was in place to minimise the impact of the strike action. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Confirmation that the government intends to plough on with unpopular, unnecessary and unfair cuts to public-sector pensions is disappointing but not unexpected. "Ministers have consistently refused to negotiate with us over the key issues of forcing public servants to pay more and work longer for less in retirement, and that is why hundreds of thousands of them will be on strike tomorrow."