Talks on civil service strike

CRUCIAL talks aimed at averting the threat of strikes by civil servants over controversial changes to a compensation scheme are due to take place today.

Union leaders were to meet the Cabinet Office in an effort to reverse the plan, which officials warned would lead to civil servants having redundancy pay cut and would lead to the government cutting jobs "on the cheap".

More than 100 MPs have signed a Commons motion expressing "deep concern" about the changes.

The Early Day Motion urges the government to re-examine what is described as the "disappointing and unfair" proposals.

The union's national executive will meet after today's talks to decide whether to press ahead with a strike ballot.