With the announcement of UCATT and GMB votes in support of strike action on 30 November, the support for action has been overwhelming in every case. The GMB voted 84% in favour on a 33% turnout across many thousands of employers. The Building workers (UCATT) voted by almost the same margin on a slightly lower turnout. Even in management unions like First Division Association (81% yes) and National Association of Head Teachers (76%), votes have been resounding. Details are provided below of ballots in all unions involved. The Unite result is expected tomorrow.
Brian Strutton GMB National Secretary for public services said:
GMB members have resoundingly said “Yes” to strike action and “No” to the government’s raid on their pensions.
It is now clear that millions of workers will be protesting on November 30th at the Government’s attack on jobs and pensions. The government have already accepted that the original proposals were unfair and wrong. It is not too late for the government to pull back from this confrontation and scrap this attack on pensions”
Acting general secretary George Guy of UCATT said:
Our members do not take industrial action lightly. The level of support for strike action underlines just how worried our members are about the future of their pensions. It is not too late for the Government to return to negotiations and to introduce much fairer pension proposals for hardworking public sector workers.”
Union | Yes | Turnout |
General | ||
GMB | 84% | 33% |
UCATT | 83% | 27% |
Unison | 78% | 29% |
Unison (NI) | earlier ballot | |
Unite | awaited | |
Civil Service | ||
FDA (senior managers) | 81% | 54% |
NAPO (probation officers) | awaited | |
NIPSA (Northern Ireland) | 67% | 38% |
PCS | earlier ballot | |
POA (prison officers) | awaited | |
Prospect | 75% | 53% |
Health | ||
AEP (educational psychologists) | yes | |
CSP (physiotherapists) | 86% | 66% |
SCP (chiropodists & podiatrists) | 85% | |
SoR (radiographers) | 83% | 58% |
Teaching, further & higher education | ||
AHDS (Scottish heads & deputies) | 60% | 38% |
Aspect (Professionals in education & Children’s trusts) | 75% | |
ATL (teachers & lecturers) | earlier ballot | |
EIS (Scttish teachers) | 82% | 54% |
NAHT (head teahcers | 76% | 54% |
NASUWT (teachers) | awaited | |
NUT | earlier ballot | |
UCAC (Welsh teachers) | earlier ballot | |
UCU (old universities) | awaited | |
UCU (FE and former polytechnics) | earlier ballot |