The PCS union representing hundreds of thousands of civil servants has rejected the government's latest offer for a public sector pensions settlement, with the union saying nothing had changed since the strikes on the 30th of November.
Under the proposals, those less than ten years away from retirement would not face any change to their pension, and those earning less than £26,000 would be protected from an increase in contributions next year. However the deal would still see millons of public sector workers paying more into their pension and retiring later.
The concession is the second by the government in as many months, in a dispute with the unions that has been rumbling on since February.
UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, confirmed that it's taking the latest deal back to its Health Service Executive for consideration. The union's mood music has been more positive than that of the PCS, with sources claiming a "heads of agreement" had been approved between health workers and the government.
Number 10's official spokesman said it was quite possible for some unions and workers to reach a deal before the end of the year, even if other unions were unwilling to. "It is possible there may be more progress in some sectors than in others. These talks are talking place at scheme level rather than the big picture level and different schemes have different characteristics," said the PM's official spokesman.
Earlier education unions said they were also hopeful that the latest round of talks would be productive, in a distinct softening of tone since the last talks broke up in deadlock.
The deadline for agreement has been set at the end of the year, however such deadlines in the past have been broken and the talks have continued - a previous deadline set for September of this year was missed.