Up to 300,000 in North West expected to join day of action

Up to 300,000 public service workers are expected to join the 30 November 30 TUC Day of Action for Pensions Justice in the North West.

In the North West, there will be marches, rallies or demonstrations at lunchtime in 14 places: Bury; Bolton; Blackburn; Blackpool; Chester; Crewe; Lancaster; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Preston; Warrington; Wigan and Wirral.

Picket lines will be held from early morning outside most public buildings in the region, including council offices and Town Halls, hospitals and major health centres, courts and job centres, tax and passport offices, schools and colleges.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “This will be the biggest co-ordinated trade union action seen in Britain for a generation.

“The strike shows the real anger of public servants who are being told by the Government that their pensions must be cut and they must work longer and pay more for less.

“The Government’s obstinate take-it-or-leave-it approach is no way to conduct meaningful negotiations – they must take the blame for the disruption which will inevitably be caused. They have forced this action on trade union members who have been left with no other choice.”

He added: “Meanwhile the bankers, whose irresponsibility caused the deficit in the first place, are escaping virtually scot free.

“Yet public services are being slashed and thousands of jobs are being lost as a result, leaving the economy flat-lining with no growth.”

In the North West, the action will culminate in “One Noise at One” when protesters at rallies are being encouraged to make as much noise as possible at precisely 1.00pm, to draw attention to the ‘Government’s unfair pension changes.’

The protests will involve a wide range of public service workers, including council workers, teachers and lecturers, health workers, police and fire staff, school dinner ladies, social workers, driving test examiners, passport office staff, court staff and other civil servants.

Unions involved in the North West include: AEP; Aspect; ATL; CSP; FDA; GMB; Prospect; Napo; NUT; NASUWT; PCS; POA; SCP; SoR; UCATT; UCU; UNISON and Unite.