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David Cameron condemns public sector strike David Cameron condemns public sector strike
(about 2 hours later)
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.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 said the "time had come" to set thresholds on union ballots and pledged to include this in the Tory manifesto.
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. Umbrella union organisation the TUC said the UK already had some of the toughest strike laws in the world and called the changes "unnecessary".
More than a million public sector workers are set to join the strike.More than a million public sector workers are set to join the strike.
They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants on a range of disputes, including pay, pensions, jobs and spending cuts. They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants who are protesting against 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.
"I don't think these strikes are right... I think people should turn up for work," he told Prime Minister's Questions. "I don't think these strikes are right... I think people should turn up for work," Mr Cameron 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."
But Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS union, accused the prime minister of "complete and utter hypocrisy". But Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, accused Mr Cameron of "hypocrisy", saying unions were turned down when they offered to work with the prime minister to improve turnout.
"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. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The number of working days lost to industrial action is low.
"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." "Instead of ill-thought out and unnecessary changes in the law, a better use of the prime minister's time might be to come up with ways to ensure that Britain's hard-pressed public sector workers begin to share in the economic recovery."
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".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.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 party would look at a "a range of options" for changing strike rules. The prime minister's official spokesman said the Conservatives 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.
He would not be drawn on whether the Conservatives were considering a turnout threshold of 50%.He would not be drawn on whether the Conservatives were considering a turnout threshold of 50%.
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'.