Published at 11:27, Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Whether a day of protest to drive home public sector anger at pension changes or action aimed at defeating government, today’s strike will not go unnoticed.

Nearly 20,000 public service workers in Cumbria were expected to be taking part – nearly two million nationally – affecting schools, colleges, hospitals, government and council offices.

This action is the biggest and most disruptive the country has seen in decades and it’s unlikely to signal the end of an unhappy public sector story.

In yesterday’s Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne warned public employees pay rises would be capped at one per cent for two years and that he would be bringing forward the extension to the state-pension age to 67. It will rise to 66 in 2018 and 67 in 2026.

In the longer term, he has also indicated he wants localised pay rates for the public sector, which could mean lower pay in Cumbria.

His announcement will surely rub salt into the already sore wounds of state workers hit by spending cuts, suffering demoralisation and fear for their futures.

It serves little purpose to compare public and private sector woes over pay, pensions and retirement ages. These are not optimistic times for anyone.

But while it’s now clear painful squeezing will continue for years, is striking against inevitable economies really the wisest option?

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk