Why has the coalition gone public today with details of public sector pension changes?
The coalition say it is to stop details of their position leaking out and being misrepresented.
Some unions have said this is a desperate attempt to bypass union leaders and appeal directly to public sector workers.
More than likely the truth is a mixture of things. We know that the ATL and NUT chose to undermine the negotiations and balloted for strike action.
The negotiations may now be stalling although they were recently reported as being near to a deal.
I suspect that the talks have gone as far as they can and more unions have indicated they will ballot to strike. So the coalition have pre-empted this with today’s statement.
The most telling move was Labour’s silence on the policy itself. I thought the unions would be demanding more in return for getting Ed Miliband his job.
