UNISON members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action to protect their pensions in the biggest ballot that we have ever held.

The Local Government Service Executive unanimously agreed to go ahead with strike action on 30th November 2011, co-ordinated with other TUC unions.

Despite statements in parliament we have not yet received an offer on pensions. UNISON welcomes the theoretical improvements to the pension scheme made by Danny Alexander on Wednesday. It is though the pressure from UNISON and other trade unions that has resulted in the government moving significantly from their original position.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

“While there was significant movement from the Government on Wednesday, at this stage we only have a theoretical pension scheme that has yet to be translated into scheme offers. We have no offer in either the local government or the health pension schemes that we can put to our members.

What we do have is an overwhelming yes vote in a legal ballot. And our democratic committees have taken the decision to authorise action with the TUC in line with the wishes of our members.

So it is now up to government ministers and employers‚ to get down to work and come up with firm offers that we can put to our members.”

Tony Rabaiotti, Regional Head of Pensions, said:

“This overwhelming yes vote means that 110,000 UNISON members will be preparing to walk out on 30th November 2011, which will affect schools, universities, health, police, and all local government services.

It is a massive expression of anger by public service workers who feel they are just not being treated fairly.

These are people who work hard to deliver our essential services, sometimes in difficult circumstances, like our carers, nurses, social workers, nursery and teaching assistant staff, as well as people engaged in our environmental, refuse and meat hygiene services, and our police community support officers and traffic wardens, etc.

They, like everyone, deserve a decent pension.”