Public sector workers warned walkout could usher in crackdown

Francis Maude said legislation was kept “under review” and indicated staging a mass walk-out at a time of economic turmoil would lead to a clampdown on trade unions.

The Cabinet Office Minister said the CBI had made a “powerful case” to government calling for a minimum 40 per cent turnout on strike ballots before they are deemed legal.

He dismissed claims by union leaders pension reforms were the most important issue for members in a generation saying it was “simply incorrect” as turnout had been “extraordinarily low”.

Asked about the possibility of introducing a minimum turnout rule, he added: “I have made this point to the unions: If they do call out their members on strike at a time of huge fragility for our economy, where actually a widespread disruptive strike would cause immense damage to our economy with a lot of people losing their jobs – people who don’t have access to pensions anywhere near as good as public sector workers will still have at the end of this – then actually the pace for reform of the ballot laws I think will become very pressing.”

More than two million workers are set to walk out on November 30 for a day of action co-ordinated by the TUC, which will disrupt schools, courts, Government offices, jobcentres, driving tests, council services and hospitals.

Ministers insist the changes need to be made to public sector pensions to ensure they are sustainable.

Lib Dem Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The strike action is going to do damage to public services; it is going to do damage to the economy too.

“That’s one of the reasons why I think it is so irresponsible for trade unions to be going on strike in the middle of talks at this very difficult time in our economy.”