Britain prepares for mass shut down on Wednesday

As many as 3 million public sector workers plan to strike on Wednesday 30th November as a response to government attacks on pensions.

The strike is over plans to make public sector employees in a whole range of pension schemes pay more in and get less out, and retire several years later too.

90 per cent of schools in Britain are thought to be closing down for the day, whilst travel from abroad will be massively disrupted - the Home Office failed to find employees willing to scab on airport workers.

The closure of schools will have a huge impact on business too, as employees stay at home to look after their children.

Propaganda Fail

Britain’s Tory-led coalition government has launched a propaganda campaign against the strikers. They say that the strikes will damage the economy, lead to more unemployment and that public sector pensions are high compared to those who work for private business. It’s a classic divide and rule tactic, but one that is failing.

A recent BBC poll found that 6 out of 10 people in Britain support the strike, and even the readership of the most rightwing newspapers, such as the Daily Mail, have found 4 out of 10 are in support.

Perhaps that’s not a surprise. Youth unemployment in Britain is at the highest level ever recorded at over 1 million. To make older workers retire later will prevent even more young workers from getting onto the job ladder.

Many private sector workers are sympathetic too – many are aware that if public sector pensions are cut, their pensions will be too. A “race to the bottom” will be bad for everyone.

General strike

Wednesdays action will certainly be larger than many general strikes that have happened in different European countries in recent months. However this is not a general strike – it is a coordinated strike over issues relating to different pensions schemes. That means there is a danger some unions could be bought off before the next action is called.

And that’s what is worrying some trade unionists who realise that one day is not enough.They are calling for unions to stay out for more days – up to and including an indefinite general strike if that is what it takes to beat the attacks.