Mark Serwotka said teachers’ vote to strike would send ministers a clear message A union is threatening a walkout by hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, ahead of the results of a ballot over pension changes, job cuts and a pay freeze.
The PCS union is expecting its members to deliver an overwhelming vote in favour of strike action when details are announced on Wednesday.
It follows two teachers’ unions backing strikes on the same day.
But the government said any co-ordinated action would be a “mistake”.
Following Tuesday’s announcements of strikes by the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, a walkout is set to take place at thousands of schools in England and Wales, affecting millions of children.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka has warned that up to 750,000 public-sector workers in total could be taking co-ordinated strike action on 30 June, the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest in the public sector for many years.
He said of the NUT and ATL ballots: “These results send a clear message to the government that public-sector workers do not believe they should be made to pay with their pensions for a recession they did not cause, and we send our support and solidarity to all NUT and ATL members.
“All the experts who have looked at public-sector pensions, including the government’s own adviser, Lord Hutton, agree they are affordable now and in the future.
“The government is isolated in its belief there is a need to cut pensions even further and the only conclusion to draw is that ideology is replacing reality.”
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis has also warned that 1.2 million local authority, NHS and other public-sector workers are “on the road” to industrial action in the autumn, highlighting a “perfect storm” of pay freezes and lower pensions.
But Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said it was fair to ask public sector workers to pay “a bit more” for their pensions and to create a better balance with what other workers paid.
Contributions would rise across the board by around 3% but public-sector pensions would remain “very generous”, giving a civil servant on a £23,000 salary, with 20 years’ service, a pension worth £250,000, he said.
Mr Maude added: “We have made a great deal of progress in the talks and I am hopeful that more progress will be achieved.
“It will be a big mistake for people to embark on strike action while there are discussions going on.”
Further talks between the government and union leaders are scheduled for 27 June.
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