The action was taken by members of the PCS civil servants union, ATL and NUT teachers’ unions and the college and university union, the UCU. In the run up to the action, the tone of the government in condemning the strike and demanding that it be called off became increasing shrill. This was because the strike amounted to the greatest challenge so far since the general election of May 2010 to the government’s austerity measures and its political legitimacy. The government used two arguments against the unions. The first was the strike was premature because there are to be further talks in July on the issue. Here, the government chose to highlight that some unions like Unison, the biggest public sector union, had stated it believed a compromise could be reached. The second was damage to children’s education and to the economy (especially to the prospects of inward investment). However, senior Labour Party figures, including leader Ed Miliband, also called for the strikes to be called off, suggesting the unions were walking into a trap laid for them by the government.
so far since the general election of May 2010 to the government’s austerity measures and its political legitimacy. The government used two arguments against the unions. The first was the strike was premature because there are to be further talks in July on the issue. Here, the government chose to highlight that some unions like Unison, the biggest public sector union, had stated it believed a compromise could be reached. The second was damage to children’s education and to the economy (especial
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