UNISON members vote strike 'yes' in ballot

Want to buy this photo?

Protesters outside Rochdale Town Hall in 2010
The result means there is likely to be a huge national strike on 30 November.

Members of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, have today voted in favour of strike action to protect their pensions.

The union balloted members including nurses, teaching assistants, social workers, care assistants, paramedics, police staff, school dinner ladies, probation workers and cleaners.

Overall 245,358 people voted yes in the ballot with 70,253 voting no.

The result means there is likely to be a huge national strike on 30 November.

The 30 November ‘day of action’ is being organised by the TUC, other public sector unions are expected to announced over the next few weeks if they too will take part in industrial action on that day.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON said: “The decisive yes vote in the ballot reflects the deep concern that our members have over Government ministers’ proposals for their pensions.”

Mr Prentis said a statement made in Parliament yesterday over the changes was a “marked improvement on earlier proposals”

Adding: “We support the TUC day of action on 30 November, but will be negotiating right up to then and beyond to get a fair deal for our members.”

Helen Harrison, Branch Secretary for Rochdale UNISON, said: “I think this shows people are ready to fight back.”

She described the proposed changes as an “attack on earnings.”

And said: “The people who didn’t vote should accept the majority decision.”