ONE in three female workers in Scotland will suffer from changes to public sector pensions, union leaders claim.

The claim came as Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told delegates at the STUC Women’s Conference in Glasgow that the Scottish Government “deeply resents” being held to ransom by Westminster over the pensions increase issue.

Ms Sturgeon also said ministers supported public sector reform but said there would be no compulsory redundancies “as far as we can control that”.

The conference is being held as Scotland moves towards major industrial action on November 30 over public sector pension hikes, including the first full walkout by teachers in a generation.

On the second day of the conference, delegates heard that Scottish women would be disproportionately affected by Government public service pension proposals.

The STUC said more than two-thirds of Scotland’s public sector workers are women and that one in three of all female workers was affected. Of the Scottish unions which have declared in favour of action, PCS, Unison and EIS, 68% of the workers balloted are women.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government totally opposes the proposed increase in pension contributions. I don’t accept it’s about the sustainability of pensions.”