Teachers’ strike may result in wider action

PUBLIC and civil servants could take strike action after Easter in the bitter dispute over pensions, a union has revealed.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it would continue to pursue a joint campaign with other unions against the government’s planned public sector pension changes.

There had previously been suggestions that the union, which represents about 290,000 civil and public servants, would take part in a walkout next Wednesday.

Last week, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said it was calling a one-day regional strike in London on that day as the next step in its pensions campaign.

London-based members of the University and College Union (UCU) who are part of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme are also expected to take part in the walkout.

Yesterday members of the PCS executive said that they had agreed to offer “solidarity and practical support” to the English teachers and lecturers taking part in the action, and to “redouble efforts towards co-ordinated national action in April”. It means their members will not take part in next week’s strike.

The PCS executive also announced that it would be writing to the government to formally reject the latest pensions offer and seek urgent negotiations.

In a statement, the PCS said that it still intended to work with other unions to build up to joint national industrial action before the end of April. This will follow any decision taken by the NUT at its annual conference, held in Torquay over the Easter weekend.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our overwhelming ballot result came in the face of continuing attacks from the government and during a time when many people are suffering personal financial hardship.”