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| Government 'not budging' on public sector pay and pensions | Government 'not budging' on public sector pay and pensions |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government is "not budging" on its changes to pay and pensions for public sector workers, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said. | The government is "not budging" on its changes to pay and pensions for public sector workers, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said. |
| Mr Maude told Sky News it would be "totally irresponsible" to reverse changes that made pay and pensions "affordable and sustainable". | Mr Maude told Sky News it would be "totally irresponsible" to reverse changes that made pay and pensions "affordable and sustainable". |
| More than a million public sector workers are expected to take part in a strike on Thursday. | More than a million public sector workers are expected to take part in a strike on Thursday. |
| They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants. | They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants. |
| Mr Maude criticised unions for holding strikes based on ballots with low turnout, claiming that one persuaded just 20% of its eligible members to vote. | Mr Maude criticised unions for holding strikes based on ballots with low turnout, claiming that one persuaded just 20% of its eligible members to vote. |
| He said the National Union of Teachers (NUT) was striking on the basis of a ballot held nearly two years ago and it showed a "great lack of self-confidence" that a new ballot was not being held. | He said the National Union of Teachers (NUT) was striking on the basis of a ballot held nearly two years ago and it showed a "great lack of self-confidence" that a new ballot was not being held. |
| 'Not listening' | 'Not listening' |
| The NUT says its summer 2012 ballot remains in force and allows it to take further strike action. | The NUT says its summer 2012 ballot remains in force and allows it to take further strike action. |
| It says its members overwhelmingly supported the call for joint action on pay and working conditions. | It says its members overwhelmingly supported the call for joint action on pay and working conditions. |
| The latest proposed strike follows two years of pay freezes for teachers, a 1% pay cap in 2013 and a 1% pay rise announced for this year. | |
| The NUT says this pay restraint combined with increased pension contributions means the real value of teachers' take-home pay will have fallen by 15% over the life of the coalition government. | |
| Thursday's planned strike brings together union members involved in a range of disputes with the government on pay and other issues. | |
| Those expected to take part include: | Those expected to take part include: |
| The general secretary of umbrella union organisation the TUC told the BBC's Sunday Politics it "seems like the government isn't listening" to ordinary people. | The general secretary of umbrella union organisation the TUC told the BBC's Sunday Politics it "seems like the government isn't listening" to ordinary people. |
| Frances O'Grady said it "really sticks in the throat" that the government could offer tax cuts for millionaires but not find more money for dinner ladies. | Frances O'Grady said it "really sticks in the throat" that the government could offer tax cuts for millionaires but not find more money for dinner ladies. |
| The Cabinet Office has said public sector pay restraint protects jobs, supports public services and is necessary to help restore the national finances. | The Cabinet Office has said public sector pay restraint protects jobs, supports public services and is necessary to help restore the national finances. |
| Last month, the Cabinet Office said the government had made savings of £1.1bn by restricting wage inflation in 2013/14 and further savings from reforming civil service pensions. | |
| Are you planning to take part in Thursday's industrial action? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Public sector pay' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |