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Minister Francis Maude urges '15-minute strike' Minister Francis Maude urges '15-minute strike'
(about 7 hours later)
  
The government has suggested public sector workers planning to strike over pension changes stage a "token" walkout lasting just 15 minutes.The government has suggested public sector workers planning to strike over pension changes stage a "token" walkout lasting just 15 minutes.
With pension negotiations ongoing, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude suggested "token action" on 30 November meant workers could avoid losing pay.With pension negotiations ongoing, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude suggested "token action" on 30 November meant workers could avoid losing pay.
The union Unison called the government proposal a "PR gimmick".The union Unison called the government proposal a "PR gimmick".
The strike must be held within 28 days of being called, or unions face having to re-ballot members at major expense.The strike must be held within 28 days of being called, or unions face having to re-ballot members at major expense.
Mr Maude accepted that this rule meant that some unions felt the strikes must be held on 30 November because if they were delayed the unions would lose their mandate for industrial action.Mr Maude accepted that this rule meant that some unions felt the strikes must be held on 30 November because if they were delayed the unions would lose their mandate for industrial action.
"We're willing to accommodate some kind of token action," Mr Maude told the Financial Times."We're willing to accommodate some kind of token action," Mr Maude told the Financial Times.
"I can't imagine any employer in the public sector would say if you have a token strike of a quarter of an hour during the day which doesn't affect public services, you lose a day's pay.""I can't imagine any employer in the public sector would say if you have a token strike of a quarter of an hour during the day which doesn't affect public services, you lose a day's pay."
'Carrot and stick'
But he also warned that a whole day of industrial action, amid ongoing negotiations and after just a quarter of the unions' members had taken part in ballots, would strengthen the case for law changes to demand minimum turnouts for valid strike votes.But he also warned that a whole day of industrial action, amid ongoing negotiations and after just a quarter of the unions' members had taken part in ballots, would strengthen the case for law changes to demand minimum turnouts for valid strike votes.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "This carrot is accompanied by a rather large stick."BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said: "This carrot is accompanied by a rather large stick."
A Unison spokesperson said the government could not guarantee that 9,000 public sector employers would not dock workers' pay. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "If Francis Maude had genuinely wanted this idea to be taken seriously I would have expected him to have raised it directly with the unions rather than play it as a PR gambit in a press interview.
"It's a load of PR gimmicks to make people think unions are being unreasonable," the spokesperson said. "The way to resolve this dispute and avoid industrial action is to make real progress and acceptable offers in the negotiations."
'Gimmicks'
A Unison spokesman said the government could not guarantee that 9,000 public sector employers would not dock workers' pay.
"It's a load of PR gimmicks to make people think unions are being unreasonable," the spokesman said.
"We're talking about a legitimate ballot. Our members voted a certain way and how that strike goes ahead is not a matter for Francis Maude to dictate.""We're talking about a legitimate ballot. Our members voted a certain way and how that strike goes ahead is not a matter for Francis Maude to dictate."
The TUC has called a national day of action over pension changes on 30 November and more than three million workers from a range of unions could take part.The TUC has called a national day of action over pension changes on 30 November and more than three million workers from a range of unions could take part.