Unfortunately, however, the biggest public sector unions have not yet made any proposals to ballot on pensions. Some of them, at least, are arguing that no strike action should be organised before September when the government finalises its attacks on pensions.

But we should not wait - serious attacks on pensions are already being proposed - and we need action as soon as possible after 26 March.

Whenever the first public sector union takes national strike action there should be a national mid-week demonstration against cuts and attacks on pensions - so that workers from across the public sector can show their support for strike action and to increase the pressure on other public sector unions to build for a one day public sector strike.

Such a strike should also appeal to those in the private sector to join who will be affected by the switch to CPI - around five million workers who are members of defined benefit pension schemes.

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