UK: Up to 3 million expected to take part in national strike

London, (IRNA): Up to three million workers are expected to take part in Britain's national strike at the end of November that is set to be backed by the country's three largest trade unions among others.


On Wednesday, the GMB, the third largest union, voted overwhelmingly to support the coordinated 'Day of Action' over pensions planned for November 30.

GMB members working in local government, the NHS and the civil service across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted by more than 4 to 1 in favour of the national strike.

Local government and National Health staff at Unison, the largest public sector union, have already supported the biggest bout of industrial action since the national strike of 1926.

The second largest union, Unite, is also expected to confirm a yes vote in a ballot of 150,000 workers on Thursday, while the NASUWT teachers' union is due to announce the result of a strike ballot for 227,500 teachers on Friday.

The coordinated action is in protest against government proposals to raise the retirement age and increase employee contributions to public sector pensions.

Altogether more than 20 unions have backed the national strike with over 750,000 workers from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU) at the forefront.

This also includes members of the National Association of Head Teachers who voted for strike action for the first, in the union's 114-year history – raising the possibility of thousands of schools closing on November 30.

In 1926, the general strike called by the Trades Union Congress lasted nine days, but proved unsuccessful in trying to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for coal miners.