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| Public sector workers strike and police protest over cuts | Public sector workers strike and police protest over cuts |
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| Up to 400,000 public sector employees, including police officers, lecturers and border control staff, are staging a day of protest against the government austerity programme, with thousands of people expected to attend events in central London. | Up to 400,000 public sector employees, including police officers, lecturers and border control staff, are staging a day of protest against the government austerity programme, with thousands of people expected to attend events in central London. |
| About 20,000 off-duty police officers are due to March in the capital on Thursday and plan to wear a total of 16,000 black caps to mark projected job losses over the next four years. | |
| At the same time, public sector unions will hold their third one-day walkout in 12 months, led by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) civil servants' union, health workers from the Unite union, teachers and lecturers from the University and College Union, the Nipsa civil servants' union in Northern Ireland and Royal Navy support staff at the RMT union. | |
| One of the lead government negotiators on public sector pension reforms, the cabinet secretary, Francis Maude, described the strikes as "futile". | |
| Prison officers across England, Wales and Scotland are holding protest meetings against plans to link their normal pension age to the state pension age. | Prison officers across England, Wales and Scotland are holding protest meetings against plans to link their normal pension age to the state pension age. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday, one constable said the ban on industrial action by police had put the force at a disadvantage to other public sector employees. | |
| "We don't have industrial rights and we cannot do anything about the poor treatment we are receiving," said Julie Nesbit of the Police Federation, which represents 124,000 rank and file officers. She added: "The police service is the ultimate public service. We are the people without whom the rest of the public services cannot function." | "We don't have industrial rights and we cannot do anything about the poor treatment we are receiving," said Julie Nesbit of the Police Federation, which represents 124,000 rank and file officers. She added: "The police service is the ultimate public service. We are the people without whom the rest of the public services cannot function." |
| Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said police pay needed to be reformed but said he understood the federation's concerns. "I can understand the concerns of officers," he said. "The government has recognised that police officers do need to be paid more than other emergency services." | Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said police pay needed to be reformed but said he understood the federation's concerns. "I can understand the concerns of officers," he said. "The government has recognised that police officers do need to be paid more than other emergency services." |
| More than 400,000 public sector employees could be involved in the wider walkouts, with the PCS's 250,000 members representing the largest bloc, followed by Unite, with 100,000. However, participation is expected to be lower, with the PCS forecasting 80% of its public sector members will walk out. | More than 400,000 public sector employees could be involved in the wider walkouts, with the PCS's 250,000 members representing the largest bloc, followed by Unite, with 100,000. However, participation is expected to be lower, with the PCS forecasting 80% of its public sector members will walk out. |
| The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, told the Guardian the strikes over changes to public sector pensions would show "the tide has turned" against pension reforms. A national strike by around a million public sector workers on 30 November last year was followed by a series of outline agreements for civil service, health, education and local government employees. Pension reforms were included in the Queen's speech, despite opposition to changes that include pegging the public sector pension age to the state pension age and higher contributions. | |
| Major health, civil service and education unions have not backed the reforms, and Serwotka said he would urge the Trades Union Congress to reopen pension negotiations with the government. | Major health, civil service and education unions have not backed the reforms, and Serwotka said he would urge the Trades Union Congress to reopen pension negotiations with the government. |
| Speaking before a rally in central London to mark the strikes, Serwotka said: "The significance of this strike is that the government clearly thought that 30 November was the end of it, and they are clearly trying to project the image that the issue is done. These strikes will show very clearly that this is not the case." | |
| The general secretaries of the Unite and RMT unions – Len McCluskey and Bob Crow – are due to attend, along with Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers. | |
| The PCS has played down the prospect of disruption at Heathrow airport, where it represents immigration control officers, amid a furore over queues in passport halls. The Home Office is expected to deploy its successful contingency operation, used twice last year, which involves drafting in security-cleared staff from the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to man passport booths. | The PCS has played down the prospect of disruption at Heathrow airport, where it represents immigration control officers, amid a furore over queues in passport halls. The Home Office is expected to deploy its successful contingency operation, used twice last year, which involves drafting in security-cleared staff from the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to man passport booths. |
| Tens of thousands of lecturers from at least 75 universities and university colleges and more than 270 further education colleges will take part in the walkout over changes to the teachers' pension scheme. | Tens of thousands of lecturers from at least 75 universities and university colleges and more than 270 further education colleges will take part in the walkout over changes to the teachers' pension scheme. |
| The changes are likely to cost lecturers an extra £350-£500 a year in pension contributions – a 50% rise. When the changes are introduced in 2015, many will have to work until the age of 67 or 68, rather than 65. | |
| Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers, said college and university staff were already seeing the impact of the government's pension changes. | Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers, said college and university staff were already seeing the impact of the government's pension changes. |
| "It is simply not fair for ordinary families to be to be bearing the brunt of the government's cuts while those at the top get tax cuts," she said. | "It is simply not fair for ordinary families to be to be bearing the brunt of the government's cuts while those at the top get tax cuts," she said. |
| Universities and colleges across England are taking part. Steve Storey, branch chairman of the UCU at Sunderland University, said lecturers in their 20s, 30s and 40s would suffer from the changes. "A lot of lecturers, like myself, are going on strike and sacrificing a day of pay to protect the pensions of people in the future," he said. | |
| Unite represents around 100,000 health staff, including radiologists and health visitors and some paramedics, with the likelihood that appointments will have to be cancelled or rescheduled. | Unite represents around 100,000 health staff, including radiologists and health visitors and some paramedics, with the likelihood that appointments will have to be cancelled or rescheduled. |
| Government ministers criticised the strikes. The immigration minister, Damian Green, said: "This strike is completely unnecessary and we believe the public will find it unacceptable. The security of the UK border is of the utmost importance and we will use contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action." | Government ministers criticised the strikes. The immigration minister, Damian Green, said: "This strike is completely unnecessary and we believe the public will find it unacceptable. The security of the UK border is of the utmost importance and we will use contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action." |
| Maude, who has been leading talks over public sector pension reforms with Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action which will benefit no one. We would urge these union leaders to reconsider their position." | Maude, who has been leading talks over public sector pension reforms with Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action which will benefit no one. We would urge these union leaders to reconsider their position." |
| Maude also dismissed Serwotka's call for more negotiations. "Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action," he added. "In March we set out our final proposed agreements on pension reform following more than a year of intensive discussions with trades unions. Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future." | Maude also dismissed Serwotka's call for more negotiations. "Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action," he added. "In March we set out our final proposed agreements on pension reform following more than a year of intensive discussions with trades unions. Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future." |