Isn't it curious how we're seeing similar attacks against the unions who are being scapegoated for the economic problems? The fact that bankers are also seeing a pretty consistent program of mollycoddling in most of the rich countries does make you wonder. Once again, why are unions being blamed for what we know was a Wall Street economic crisis? The attacks against the middle class are growing around the world.
Trade unions representing a million state employees are drawing up plans for strikes that could bring Britain's schools, universities, courts and Whitehall to a standstill as early as June in protest over government plans to end so-called "gold-plated" public sector pensions, the Guardian has learned.
Lord Hutton, the Labour former work and pensions secretary charged by the coalition with reviewing public sector pensions, will publish his final report on Thursday, and it now looks likely to act as a starting gun for extended industrial action against the government's austerity programme.
The report will recommend that 6 million nurses, teachers, local government and other public sector workers should pay more into their pension pots, retire later and receive less when they do. All state employees will be affected, and it will create the first legal basis for simultaneous strikes across the public service unions.
