As public workers return to their desks, a ‘real possibility’ of pensions deal emerges

Unions said yesterday’s walkout was the biggest since the 1979 Winter of Discontent, maintaining that up to two million workers, ranging from lollipop ladies and school cleaners to headteachers and nuclear physicists, had taken part.

The Government said the figure was wrong, with Prime Minister David Cameron telling the Commons the strike was a “damp squib”.

It emerged last night that police were called in provide support to London Ambulance Service, which faced “severe pressure” because of the dispute, with 42% of its staff on strike.

Talks will be held today between the Government and teaching unions, and with health unions tomorrow, as efforts continue to reach a deal and head off further industrial action.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said today he believed there was a “good chance” of reaching agreement, adding that there was still a lot of detail to be discussed with the unions.

“There is a very realistic possibility of reaching agreement,” he told BBC TV. “The Government is committed to achieving an agreement, as are most trade union leaders. We are working as constructively as we can on that basis.”

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said she will approach today’s talks in a “positive” way and continue to work in good faith to find a negotiated settlement to the Government’s planned pension reforms.

“If we cannot make progress we may need to consider further strike and other action alongside our colleagues in other unions where appropriate,” she said.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Up to two million public service workers have stopped work to send a strong and united message to the Government.

“Ministers cannot dismiss the stand taken by these ordinary decent people, the majority of whom will probably have been on strike for the first time in their lives.

“The biggest strike in a generation cannot be dismissed as a damp squib. The claims that all low-paid workers will be protected and that the average workers will get better pensions collapse under the slightest scrutiny.

“Ministers should have taken careful note of what has happened. Uniting so many people in such strong opposition to their pension plans should give the Government pause for thought.

“They now need to give the negotiations real content. Unions wants to achieve a fair settlement, but it takes two to reach a deal.”

Mr Barber added: “The Government should turn its attention from trying to downplay what was the biggest strike in a generation, stop the war of words and get on with serious negotiations where they spell out exactly what they are now proposing in each scheme.

“Unions want to see a fair negotiated settlement and are ready for the intensive talks we now need, but those talks need content and that can only come from ministers.”

Prime Minister David Cameron called today for an agreement to be reached on public sector pensions following yesterday’s strikes.

He made clear that he stuck by his assessment yesterday that the mass walkout had been “a damp squib”.

Mr Cameron told ITV1’s This Morning: “Obviously it was a big strike, but I think compared to what the unions had told us to expect - nine out of 10 schools shut and chaos at the borders - we didn’t see that.

“Heathrow and Gatwick worked well, around 40% of schools were open, only a small number of jobcentres were closed.

“The key thing now is let’s get on and reach an agreement about the future of public sector pensions.

“What was disappointing, frankly, about yesterday was that negotiations were ongoing and I don’t think that it’s responsible to strike when you are still talking.”

Mr Cameron said he understood why strikers “felt strongly” about the issue, but insisted that the Government’s pension plans were fair to public sector workers and taxpayers.

“I quite understand why people feel strongly about this, but as a country we have got to make sure our public sector pension system is affordable,” he said.

Private sector workers such as plumbers and factory workers were paying towards the pensions of public sector doctors, teachers and civil servants which are more generous than anything they can expect for themselves, he said.