Britain set for major strike over pensions row

BRITISH unions are pressing ahead with plans for the biggest strike in a generation despite a new government offer on public sector pensions described as the “chance of a lifetime”.

Unison will announce the result of its ballot of over a million workers today and other unions will follow suit in the coming weeks, raising the prospect of a huge walkout on November 30 which will disrupt schools, courts, hospitals, councils, driving exams and other services.

Hours after receiving details of the new offer from chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, union leaders said they welcomed the proposed changes, but they were not enough to call off the planned industrial action.