Britain faced with massive 400k-strong strike

Britain faces a massive nationwide strike over the government’s embattled changes to pays and pensions, which mean children who are born today will probably have to work until they are 80 before retirement.

European Phoenix -- The strikes and protests by an estimated 400,000 public sector workers later today will hit airports, colleges, military sites and courts, among others.

The industrial action is the second major muscle-flexing between the government and the unions over the pensions changes after the huge action by more than 1.5 million public sector workers in November.

The strikes are specially alarming for the government as some 20,000 police officers across England and Wales are expected to take part in the action despite the fact that they are banned from striking under the law.

The Police Federation, the union which represents officers, said 16,000 police members will wear black caps to show the number of cuts they will face in four years due to the government’s sweeping austerity measures.

Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Britain’s biggest public sector union Unite, said the industrial action “will build on the high level of anger that was on display during the November 30 strikes” adding the situation is no more tolerable for the workers.

"[Chancellor] George Osborne's austerity plans are beginning to sicken everyone. A work-until-you-drop culture in this country is not because people want teachers, nurses, firemen struggling at work into their 70s," Cartmail said.

Meanwhile general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) Mark Serwotka, slammed the government’s “prescription of austerity and misery that has plunged the UK back into recession” saying the ministers have cut “vital public services” while giving tax breaks to “super-earners.”

This comes as the Queen’s Speech debate on Wednesday escalated the tension with unions after minister vowed to press ahead with the embattled austerity and reforms.