NewsBreakingOnline

Unison boss Dave Prentis says his 1.2 million members will be balloted on industrial action unless a meeting with the government on 28 June leads to a deal The UK’s largest public sector union has warned that it is gearing up for strike action in the autumn unless ministers pull back from controversial pension changes. Dave Prentis, the general secretary of Unison, said huge numbers of local government workers and NHS staff are “on the road” to long-term industrial action over pension changes that would lead to public sector workers paying more into the schemes, receiving less in retirement and working longer. Balloting of around 1.2 million workers will start soon unless a crunch meeting with the government on 28 June leads to a deal, Prentis said, accusing the government of preventing proper negotiations over the controversial plans. Speaking ahead of the union’s annual conference next week, Prentis signalled that members would be balloted for a sustained period of industrial unrest unless the government alters course. “If we are prevented from reaching agreement we will move to a ballot in the summer or early autumn,” Prentis told reporters. “It will not be one day of action – it will be long-term industrial action throughout all our public services to prevent destruction of our pension schemes.” He said the pension reforms had been driven by a desire to help “cowboy private companies” take over public service delivery by making it cheaper for them to tender for work by not having to pick up the pension bill. While Prentis said he fully expected the government to “drive a wedge” between public and private sector workers, he expressed confidence that the public would back his members in a dispute. “I’ve got no doubt whatsoever that this is being done to get the public services in a state for wholesale privatisation, and I don’t think there are many people in the electorate who want their public services privatised,” said Prentis. “It is very clear we are on a collision course unless the government changes its policies.” Strike action over pensions is already planned by three unions on 30 June after 750,000 teachers and civil servants were balloted. Unions seem unperturbed by the prospect of a government clampdown on strike action as they prepare to battle the pension changes. Last week Vince Cable, the business secretary, warned that the threat of widespread industrial action over spending cuts could ratchet up pressure on the government to make it harder for workers to strike. Asked about this, Prentis said: “Yes , I take it seriously but it really is off-the-wall stuff that you can have millions of people worried about retirement and their pensions that they have paid into all their lives and if they try to do anything to show their anger, the only response from this coalition is, we are going to take away your right to strike.” The union leader warned also of the possible effects of some of the pensions changes. A 50% increase in contributions matched by reduced benefits would not only lead to greater poverty in many households, but would also make the pensions schemes themselves not viable, he warned, especially the local government scheme, which has 2 million members. Prentis said that in some areas such as Merseyside as much as 23% of all investment is from local government pension funds: “If people leave [the scheme] because contributions are too high, and benefits too low, it will seriously affect the economy of this country and especially our northern cities,” he said. “These are the unintended consequences of what this government is attempting to do on public service pensions.” He dismissed as “nonsense” weekend media reports that suggest unions are frustrated with Ed Miliband’s leadership in fighting the cuts. Prentis said it was “early days” for the new leader, but he believed he was on the right course. “He is saying the right things and he understands the seriousness of what the coalition is doing to public services,” he said. Trade unions Public sector cuts Public services policy Public finance Public sector pay Public sector pensions Dave Prentis Local government Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk