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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Minister Francis Maude urges '15-minute strike' | Minister Francis Maude urges '15-minute strike' |
| (40 minutes 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. |
| 'Token action' | 'Token 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. | 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. |
| This 15-minute walkout idea is a lot to do with winning the hearts and minds of the wider public in this battle over public sector pensions. | This 15-minute walkout idea is a lot to do with winning the hearts and minds of the wider public in this battle over public sector pensions. |
| The government wants to appear to be the conciliatory and reasonable negotiator with unions and sway wavering voters who may feel as if it was bullying them. | The government wants to appear to be the conciliatory and reasonable negotiator with unions and sway wavering voters who may feel as if it was bullying them. |
| The 'token strike' notion comes a week after the coalition made a revised offer to unions that no-one within 10 years of retirement would have to work longer to get their full pension. | The 'token strike' notion comes a week after the coalition made a revised offer to unions that no-one within 10 years of retirement would have to work longer to get their full pension. |
| These carrots from ministers come with a big stick, however. | These carrots from ministers come with a big stick, however. |
| If public sector unions press ahead with their 'mega strike' at the end of the month, then the government may look hard at reforming strike legislation. That could mean at least half of union members would have to have cast their ballots before a strike became legitimate. Only a quarter of public sector union members voted for the forthcoming walkout. | If public sector unions press ahead with their 'mega strike' at the end of the month, then the government may look hard at reforming strike legislation. That could mean at least half of union members would have to have cast their ballots before a strike became legitimate. Only a quarter of public sector union members voted for the forthcoming walkout. |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| The negotiations between the government and the unions are technically only relevant for England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland's administrations in separate but aligned talks with unions, said the BBC's business correspondent Joe Lynam. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The way to resolve this dispute and avoid industrial action is to make real progress and acceptable offers in the negotiations." | "The way to resolve this dispute and avoid industrial action is to make real progress and acceptable offers in the negotiations." |
| A Unison spokesman said the government could not guarantee that 9,000 public sector employers would not dock workers' pay. | 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. | "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." |
| 'Very complex' | 'Very complex' |
| 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. |
| But Sir Steve Bullock of the Local Government Association urged local government employees not to take part in any strike. | But Sir Steve Bullock of the Local Government Association urged local government employees not to take part in any strike. |
| He said: "All of the public sector pension schemes are very complex and it is entirely possible that you do something quickly which you can live to regret later. | He said: "All of the public sector pension schemes are very complex and it is entirely possible that you do something quickly which you can live to regret later. |
| "I would urge everyone who's involved to take the time to give us more opportunity to work up a sustainable scheme." | "I would urge everyone who's involved to take the time to give us more opportunity to work up a sustainable scheme." |