Civil service unions today joined the band of unions opting out of strike action following government reassurances that a "fresh start" to pension reform negotiations would follow.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and the First Division Association (FDA) both confirmed that a one-day strike planned for this Wednesday has been postponed.
This follows confirmation by local government unions issued earlier today that they would halt strike action following the deputy prime minister, John Prescott's, decision to withdraw amended regulation to introduce pension changes for council staff next month. Council staff were set to see their pension and retirement age raised to 65, one year earlier than the rest of their public sector colleagues.
The National Union of Teachers also abandoned plans to launch a strike ballot following government reassurances that it would enter into meaningful negotiations with public sector workers in the face of collective union pressure.
The government backtracked after fearing a "spring of discontent" which would have seen around 1.5 million public sector workers strike en masse, just weeks ahead of an anticipated general election in May.
Civil servants were concerned at the proposed changes to civil service pensions which were thrust upon the sector with little consultation, including the controversial plan to raise their retirement age from 60 to 65 next year.
Cautious civil service unions waited for a cast-iron guarantee from government that it was committed to meaningful negotiations, before deciding to postpone the strike.
A letter from the cabinet office secretary and head of the civil service, Sir Andrew Turnbull, sent earlier today gave them the necessary assurance that a fresh start in negotiations would take place, covering issues related to civil service pay coherence, job losses and sick pay.
Commenting Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, said: "Through our positive campaigning and vote for industrial action what was previously deemed as set in stone and non-negotiable is now open for negotiation representing a hard won change of policy by the government", he said.
"We welcome the government's step back from confrontation and the recognition that raising the public sector pension age without negotiation was a step to far. It is on the basis of meaningful negotiation, in giving people real choices and a real flexibility about their pensions that the decision to postpone Wednesday's strike has been taken.
"The task is now to ensure the government deal with our concerns through negotiation and that people have dignity in their old age and certainty about their pension."
Jonathan Baume, the general secretary of the FDA, which represents 13000 senior civil service staff, said: "We welcome the government's promise of a 'fresh start' in negotiations which is a significant change of direction. Clearly any change to the hard-earned retirements of civil servants must be a subject for genuine negotiation and debate.
"We are now assured that the government realises the importance of getting these changes right. We look forward to beginning meaningful dialogue on how best to ensure the fairness and sustainability of public sector pensions schemes."
