Unison’s general secretary, Dave Prentis, has hit back at fat-cat businessmen and ministers in the Conservative-led coalition who have questioned the legitimacy of the union’s strike ballot – and the overwhelming “yes” vote by members – against the Government’s plans to make public sector workers pay more, and work longer, to get less than they do now.
In the ballot, 245,358 people voted for strike action with 70,253 against.
Mr Prentis said: “Unison members voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action to protect their pensions in the biggest ballot we have ever held.
“Each service group executive – local government, health, police and justice, community, higher education and water, environment and transport – unanimously agreed to go ahead with strike action on November 30, co-ordinated with other TUC unions. That has been authorised by the union’s industrial action committee.
“Despite statements in Parliament, we have not yet received an offer on pensions, but we are willing to negotiate any time, any place.”
Addressing the government ministers in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition who have sought to undermine the strike – and those big businessmen who have their own gold-plated pensions but want to cut what is on offer to those in the public sector – Mr Prentis said: “Unison is a democratic organisation whose members have the right to vote in strike ballots. There was a 76 per cent vote in favour and that democratic decision, made by our membership, is valid and legitimate and must be respected.
“Democracy in the UK is not perfect, and we all need to look at why turnouts have fallen. But for Government ministers and business leaders to question the legitimacy of our result is a bit rich.
“The UK’s democratic system gives people the right to vote and there is a consensus that whoever wins the popular vote governs the country. There is no requirement for an absolute majority of all potential votes, or of all votes cast. Indeed, earlier this year the alternative vote was overwhelmingly rejected by the British public. If you follow our critics’ own logic, they would all have a rather shaky claim to power.”
Next Generation Labour has put its weight behind the TUC’s day of action. In a statement, the organisation said: “The Tories’ austerity policies are punishing millions of ordinary people through cuts in real wages, soaring unemployment and the slashing of public services. The day of action called by the TUC and trade unions across our public services is a clear expression of public opposition to the Government’s economic agenda of cuts and privatisation.”
