30 November: day public sector will stop

Up to three million workers, ranging from firefighters and school dinner ladies to social workers and driving test examiners, are set to take part in the action on St Andrew’s Day, which will include stoppages, meetings, rallies and joint events with community groups.

The walkout, a day after the Chancellor makes his autumn statement on the economy, will herald months of industrial unrest in what is expected to be a major challenge to the government.

Ministers accused unions of “rushing” into action while negotiations were continuing, and business leaders urged the government to “stick to its guns” in the face of the threatened disruption to public services.

More than 20 unions are set to be involved in the action, including those representing council workers, NHS staff, teachers, civil servants, firefighters and nurses in secure hospitals.

Unions made a series of announcements about strike ballots during a highly charged debate at the TUC conference in London where anger at the government’s plans to increase employees’ pension contributions by more than 3 per cent spilled over.

Unison, Unite, the GMB and the Fire Brigades Union all gave notice of ballots, which will be held in the coming weeks even though talks with the government are set to continue. The ballot by Unison of its 1.1 million members is understood to be the single biggest ballot for strikes yet held by a trade union in this country.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said 9,000 separate employees’ groups would be involved in the action. He was given a standing ovation after saying unions were involved in the “fight of our lives”.

Mr Prentis accused the government of an “unprecedented” attack on workers with its “audacious and devious” pension reforms.

Talks have been ongoing for several months, but Mr Prentis said: “We’ve been patient, we’ve co-operated, but there comes a time when we say enough is enough because, if we don’t, they’ll be back for more.

“It’s a decision we don’t take lightly and the stakes are high, higher than ever before, but now is the time to make our stand. It will be hard, we’ll be vilified, attacked, set against each other, but we must stay strong and united.”

The Fire Brigades Union announced the first step towards balloting its 43,000 members, raising the threat of industrial action without any cover by “Green Goddesses” – the ageing military vehicles that have been taken out of service.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “It is very regrettable that they are rushing to announce days of strikes when the discussions are still ongoing.

“It would be lovely to wave a magic wand and say we have discovered pots of gold, and the ageing population is not ageing, and, hallelujah, pension funds are entirely sustainable.”

Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesman described the calls for strike ballots as “disappointing”, and said industrial action would be irresponsible at a time of economic difficulty.

First Minister Alex Salmond said it was too early for strike action, but criticised the UK government’s handling of the pensions issue.

Mr Salmond said: “My difficulty with what the UK government is proposing at the moment is the desire that they have to increase pension contributions now, or very shortly in the next financial year, against a background where many public sector workers are having a pay freeze and prices are rising very fast.

“I think that’s an unreasonable thing to do and something which is not necessary in terms of the shape of the public sector pension funds.”