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UK strike to go ahead after talks fail

Press TV – June 28, 2011

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is to urge the public sector unions to stop the planned anti-cuts demonstration and accept the unsustainability of the pension packages.

Two days before the so-called longest and smartest strike by teachers, lecturers and civil servants, Cameron is to declare that the current arrangements are “not fair to the taxpayer.”

The coalition government is settling contingency plans in order to handle the country’s biggest strike action, with some 750,000 workers planning to stage a 24-hour protest on Thursday.

The walkout by the members of the four leading unions in the UK will continue, despite the two-hour negotiations between union leaders and ministers over the pension reforms.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) leader Brendan Barber believes the government talks have failed to close the “major gaps,” between our position and that of the government.

“The strikes will be taking place on Thursday. Four unions balloted their members and reached that decision and that reflects the degree of anger and worry and real fear there is across everyone who works for public sectors that their pensions are under threat,” Barber added.

Cameron was reported to have “prepared robust but fair message” to the unions while he is to address the Local Government Association annual conference.

Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), considered the government talks as a “farce,” accusing the coalition government of being uninterested to negotiate about its plans to cut pensions, increase the retirement age and raise contributions.

Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, also said, “We are disappointed, but not particularly surprised that the Government has yet again refused to give us the information we need to carry out negotiations about teachers’ and lecturers’ pensions.”

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander insisted that the meeting with the union leaders was “constructive” and expressed their disappointment with the persistence of the Thursday’s demonstration.

“We can assure the public that we have rigorous contingency plans in place to ensure that their essential services are maintained during the strike,” they said.

June 28, 2011 - Posted by | Economics, Solidarity and Activism

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