UNISON activists have voted today to give the union’s negotiators the green light to continue discussions with government ministers on changes to public sector pensions.

More than 250 key elected national, regional, rank and file activists met at UNISON’s headquarters to discuss the details of the proposals for the local government and health pension schemes.

They agreed to the frameworks negotiators have developed with government ministers since 30 November.

For more information follow the link to Pensions campaign website

Follow the following link to phots from yesterdays day of action. If you have any photos you would like to add please email p.riley@unison.co.uk.

Web Album Pensions Day of Action 30 November 2011

Below are a number of links to coverage of the yesterdays strike in the media.

Some links such as such as tv news reports may be only available for a short time.

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 UNISON, the public sector trade union, following the biggest ballot in its history, will see thousands of its members across the region, take strike action in defence of their pensions. 78,000 UNISON members in this Region, who are part of the Local Government and NHS pension schemes, have been balloted. Members including those in local government, the NHS, police support staff, and passenger transport executive will be taking strike action. Read more »

UNISON VOTES YES IN BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN DEFENCE OF PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS 

UNISON, the public sector trade union, having undertaken the biggest ballot in its history has been given a resounding ‘YES’ vote by members to commence industrial action in defence of their pensions. That means 76,000 UNISON members in this Region, who are part of the Local Government and NHS pension schemes, have been balloted. Members including those in local government, the NHS, police support staff, the environment agency, and passenger transport executives received ballot papers.  Read more »

UNISON members in the North East took to the Tyne Bridge today to bring home the message on plans to make public sector workers pay more and work longer for lower pensions when they do get to retire.

Placards urged fellow members to vote Yes in the union’s strike ballot, which ends next Thursday, to ‘Stop the great pensions robbery’.

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today announced the start of the biggest ballot in UK history, in a trade dispute over government ministers’ plans to make detrimental changes to local government and NHS pensions.

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Taken from The Journal 11/10/11

“PENSION schemes could collapse if public sector workers are priced out of paying into them, union members warned last night.