Shropshire MoD staff to strike, says union leader

Thousands of Ministry of Defence workers in Shropshire are to join a national walkout this month in protest at public sector pension changes, a union leader said today.

Robert H O'Harney predicted more people would down tools on November 30 than took part in the General Strike of 1926.

He said the Public and Commercial Services Union, which yesterday voted to join the 24-hour action, alone had more than 1,500 members in MoD jobs across Shropshire.

He said members of the First Division Association of senior civil servants, Prospect and the GMB unions which accounted for other MoD staff across the county had also voted in favour of the strike.

The results of the giant Unite union are still awaited.

Civil servants, teachers, council and health workers have been voting on whether to strike in protest against the Government's controversial reforms to public sector pensions.

More than 70 schools in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin were forced to close or were only partially open when public sector unions struck in June.

Mr O'Harney, RAF Cosford branch secretary of the PCS union, said: "In the PCS we have 4-500 members at Cosford, more than 500 at MoD Donnington and more than 500 at Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury."

Ministers have criticised unions for planning to continue with the industrial action while talks are continuing.