ONLY a massive change in Government plans could stop tens of thousands of public-sector workers in Scotland going on strike on Thursday, a union has said.
The warning came as talks between the Coalition and union leaders were condemned as a “farce”.
Up to 30,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are due to strike over changes to their pensions. Picket lines will be mounted outside Jobcentres, courts and Government buildings across Scotland.
There was outrage earlier this month when Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander appeared to pre-empt the talks by announcing most public- sector staff would have to work until they were 66.
The Coalition insists the changes are necessary to deal with an ageing population but unions say they are unfair and will leave their members much worse off. Joy Dunn, of PCS Scotland, said only a “massive U-turn” by the Government could stop the strike going ahead.
After meeting ministers in London yesterday, Mark Serwotka, the union’s general secretary said the talks were a “farce”.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber suggested some progress had been made, although there was still a “major gap” between the sides on issues including the pension age.
The Coalition made a concession in agreeing to look at local government staff and their pensions separately from other public-sector workers. Meanwhile, a poll suggested people would support a ban on public-sector strikes in which only half of union members voted.
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