Union talks still a long way apart, says Barber

The General Secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, says talks with the Government aimed at averting a national day of strike action over pension changes, failed to bring the two sides any closer.

Unions representing council and health workers to teachers and school heads, are now preparing to hold ballots for industrial action ahead of a day of action on November 30th.

A government spokesman described the meeting as "constructive" but Mr Barber said little had changed.