'Pension protest wake-up call for UK'

PCS leader Mark Serwotka warned the British coalition government over the new wave of strikes, declaring the country's leading unions were determined to continue the anti-cut demonstrations until the ministers withdraw the reform plans.

Serwotka claimed that the Thursday strike in the United Kingdom was the "best we have seen for 10 years,” rejecting the Downing Street's announcement that only a few number of public sector workers turned up in the event.

The Cabinet Office claimed that only about 100,000 civil servants participated in the strike action, that is "Less than half of PCS union members have taken strike action, and the vast majority of civil servants are at work."

"Approximately 80 percent of the civil service workforce was not on strike, and fewer PCS members have gone on strike today than in either 2004 and 2007," it said.

But PCS leader said the mass strike across Britain must shock Francis Maude, the minister for the Cabinet Office who is leading the pension reform talks for the government.

"Maybe this is the wake-up call he needed. What they now need to do is get around the negotiating table and try to negotiate an agreement," he underscored. "They haven't done that yet, but hopefully having seen how strongly feel today they will have a change of heart."

"It's a very, very clear signal to the government that they have been rumbled. This is not about pensions, this is about making public sector workers pay for the economic problems, and we are determined to keep going until they change direction," Serwotka stated.

He also insisted that Thursday's protest was the “opening skirmishes” for the coming wave of protests later this year, warning the ministers that their refusal to hold talks with unions like the PCS could result in more massive rallies.