Massive UK strike over pension row

It has been described as Britain’s biggest strike since 1926. Up to 1.5 million workers have staged a walkout in a row over pensions.

The government wants to scrap a rule that allows some council workers to retire at 60 instead of 65, if their age and length of service adds up to 85 years. One demonstrator in Cardiff said: “We do feel that striking is the only option unfortunately because we’ve tried everything we can in terms of negociations with the local government association and the office of the deputy prime minister”. Another said: “What we are hoping is that the government changes its mind and will actually give us the protection we in the public sector deserve in line with the national health service and the civil service.” The government claims the rule they want to scrap is discriminatory.Unions are sticking to their guns, however, with many services, including transport, hit by industrial action.

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