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David Cameron condemns public sector strike David Cameron condemns public sector strike
(about 1 hour later)
People should go to work instead of joining Thursday's public sector strike, David Cameron has said, as he reiterated a pledge to change the laws governing strike action. People should go to work and not join Thursday's public sector strike, David Cameron has said, as he repeated a pledge to change strike laws.
The PM told MPs the "time had come" to set thresholds in union strike ballots.The PM told MPs the "time had come" to set thresholds in union strike ballots.
The pledge will be included in the Conservative manifesto for next year's general election, Mr Cameron said. The head of one union involved in the dispute accused Mr Cameron of "hypocrisy", saying unions were turned down when they offered to work with the prime minister to improve turnout.
More than a million public sector workers are set to join the day of action amid a range of disputes. More than a million public sector workers are set to join the strike.
They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants on issues including pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts. They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants on a range of disputes, including pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts.
Ministers froze public sector pay in 2010, and brought in a pay cap of 1% in 2012 which remains in place.Ministers froze public sector pay in 2010, and brought in a pay cap of 1% in 2012 which remains in place.
Those expected to take part in Thursday's action include:Those expected to take part in Thursday's action include:
For Unite, Unison and the GMB the strike action covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, while the PCS covers all four nations. The FBU and NUT are England and Wales only.For Unite, Unison and the GMB the strike action covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, while the PCS covers all four nations. The FBU and NUT are England and Wales only.
The unions claim the strike will be the biggest since the pensions dispute, which led to a mass strike on 30 November 2011.The unions claim the strike will be the biggest since the pensions dispute, which led to a mass strike on 30 November 2011.
Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a majority of those balloted.Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a majority of those balloted.
Mr Cameron told Prime Minister's Questions: "I don't think these strikes are right... I think people should turn up for work. "I don't think these strikes are right... I think people should turn up for work," he told Prime Minister's Questions.
"I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in strike ballots... The [NUT] strike ballot took place in 2012, based on a 27% turnout."I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in strike ballots... The [NUT] strike ballot took place in 2012, based on a 27% turnout.
"How can it possibly be right for our children's education to be disrupted by trade unions acting in that way? It is time to legislate and it will be in the Conservative manifesto.""How can it possibly be right for our children's education to be disrupted by trade unions acting in that way? It is time to legislate and it will be in the Conservative manifesto."
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the strike was "damaging" and "wrong" because some unions were walking out on the basis of old ballots, with only a small percentage of people having voted for strike action. But Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, accused the prime minister of "complete and utter hypocrisy".
A Labour Party spokesman said: "There is no proposal being put forward, there is no practical suggestion. "Ever since David Cameron came into government, and before him Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, I offered to sit down with them - all of the time, every time we raised it - and said 'We want to work with you to get higher turnouts in ballots'," he said.
"It's just another example of Cameron making the situation worse by ramping up the rhetoric, rather than trying to solve the problem." "And if we work together and we use online voting, internet voting, supervised voting in the workplace - we know that these turnouts will dramatically increase. They never, ever wanted to discuss it."
A Labour spokesman said the pledge was "just another example of Cameron making the situation worse by ramping up the rhetoric, rather than trying to solve the problem".
50% turnout?50% turnout?
Mr Cameron's remarks echo a pledge he made in May following a strike by Tube workers - but he went a step further on Wednesday by saying it would be included in the party's manifesto. Mr Cameron's remarks echo a pledge he made in May following a strike by Tube workers.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the Conservatives would look at a "a range of options" for changing strike rules in the future. The prime minister's official spokesman said the party would look at a "a range of options" for changing strike rules.
He said a variety of proposals had been put forward, including on threshold levels, strike bans for essential services, and whether there should be a limit on how long a ballot is valid for.He said a variety of proposals had been put forward, including on threshold levels, strike bans for essential services, and whether there should be a limit on how long a ballot is valid for.
Asked if the Conservatives were considering a threshold of 50%, he would not be drawn on what level of turnout was being considered. He would not be drawn on whether the Conservatives were considering a turnout threshold of 50%.
An announcement would be made in due course "on the precise detail", he said.
He added there would be "no further movement" on strike rules during the coalition because of Liberal Democrat opposition.He added there would be "no further movement" on strike rules during the coalition because of Liberal Democrat opposition.
Are you going on strike on Thursday? Are you happy to speak to a BBC journalist about the current situation? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'strike'.Are you going on strike on Thursday? Are you happy to speak to a BBC journalist about the current situation? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'strike'.