'No case for strike' says Cameron (From Essex County Standard)

'No case for strike' says Cameron

1:37pm Wednesday 29th June 2011 in National News © Press Association 2011

The Prime Minister has launched a fresh attack on Thursday's planned strike by teachers and civil servants as business leaders warned the walkout will have a "significant impact" on industry.

David Cameron told MPs there was no case for industrial action and repeated that the proposed changes to public sector pensions were "fair".

Speaking at Prime Minister's question time he said he hoped "as many mums and dads as possible" would be able to take their children to school despite the walkout by teachers across England and Wales.

"I don't believe there is any case for industrial action tomorrow, not least because talks are still ongoing. It is only a minority of unions who have taken the decision to go ahead and strike.

"What I want to see tomorrow is as many mums and dads as possible able to take their children to school. What I would say is this: What we are proposing is fair, it is fair to taxpayers but it is also fair to the public sector because we want to continue strong public sector pensions."

He also attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband, who did not ask about the walkout, accusing him of being "in the pocket of the unions".

The British Chambers of Commerce said disruption caused by the 24-hour walkout in a bitter row over pensions will lead to many parents having to take the day off work to look after their children.Working parents will lose pay and productivity will be hit by the stoppage, said the business group.

Director general David Frost said almost half of firms were nervous about recruiting former public sector workers, adding that the strike could reinforce this perception.

Mike Cherry, policy chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Small firms are concerned about the impact that the proposed strike action will have on their ability to do business on Thursday. The recovery remains in a fragile state and this action will have a wider impact on the economy as businesses lose productivity - something the economy simply cannot afford."

Airports have warned travellers to expect disruption on arrival into the UK as immigration and customs officers join the public sector strike. Passengers have been advised to consider travelling on a different day to avoid delays as hundreds of staff walk out.