This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

More than 1 million public sector workers are to vote on strike action in the biggest-ever union industrial action ballot.

The Unison union said probation officers, nurses, social workers, teaching assistants, school kitchen assistants and hospital cleaners would be among those voting in the row over public sector pensions.

The result of the ballot will be known on 3 November, giving time for Unison to strike on the TUC day of action, which takes place on 30 November.

The Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said the union was fighting for the future of public sector pensions in the face of "attacks" by the government. He warned that workers faced increased contributions, a longer wait to retire and worse pensions.

The ballot will cost Unison millions of pounds, and officials expect a big yes vote. It is the first time the union has balloted its entire membership for industrial action.

"We are doing everything possible to get a high turnout and we are confident of a big yes vote," Prentis told a news conference. "This is a fight not just about whether it is right to increase contributions, but it's a fight for the survival of public service pension schemes."

Prentis said Unison was not prepared to sit back and see contributions increase, retirement age rise and pensions fall.

Unions have been talking to the government for eight months over pensions, but very little progress has been made, Prentis said. Members will be asked to strike at the end of next month, with the prospect of further action, including a rolling programme of stoppages, afterwards. Prentis said essential public services would be protected on strike days.

Other unions are also balloting workers, raising the prospect of a strike by millions of people on 30 November on what could be the biggest day of industrial action held in the UK.

Unison said 9,500 separate employers were involved in its dispute, and Prentis said he expected some to mount a legal challenge to the ballot.