Public sector workers strike and police protest over cuts Up to 400,000 public sector employees, including police officers, lecturers and border control staff, are staging a day of protest against the government austerity programme, with thousands of people expected to attend events in central London. About 20,000 off-duty police officers are due to March in the capital on Thursday and plan to wear a total of 16,000 black caps to mark projected job losses over the next four years. At the same time, public sector unions will hold their third one-day walkout in 12 months, led by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) civil servants' union, health workers from the Unite union, teachers and lecturers from the University and College Union, the Nipsa civil servants' union in Northern Ireland and Royal Navy support staff at the RMT union. One of the lead government negotiators on public sector pension reforms, the cabinet secretary, Francis Maude, described the strikes as "futile." Prison officers across England, Wales and Scotland are holding protest meetings against plans to link their normal pension age to the state pension age. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday, one constable said the ban on industrial action by police had put the force at a disadvantage to other public sector employees. "We don't have industrial rights and we cannot do anything about the poor treatment we are receiving," said Julie Nesbit of the Police Federation, which represents 124,000 rank and file officers. She added: "The police service is the ultimate public service. We are the people without whom the rest of the public services cannot function. Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said police pay needed to be reformed but said he understood the federation's concerns. "I can understand the concerns of officers," he said. The government has recognised that police officers do need to be paid more than other emergency services. More than 400,000 public sector employees could be involved in the wider walkouts, with the PCS's 250,000 members representing the largest bloc, followed by Unite, with 100,000. However, participation is expected to be lower, with the PCS forecasting 80% of its public sector members will walk out. The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, told the Guardian the strikes over changes to public sector pensions would show "the tide has turned" against pension reforms. A national strike by around a million public sector workers on 30 November last year was followed by a series of outline agreements for civil service, health, education and local government employees. Major health, civil service and education unions have not backed the reforms, and Serwotka said he would urge the Trades Union Congress to reopen pension negotiations with the government. The general secretaries of the Unite and RMT unions - Len McCluskey and Bob Crow - are due to attend, along with Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers. The PCS has played down the prospect of disruption at Heathrow airport, where it represents immigration control officers, amid a furore over queues in passport halls. The changes are likely to cost lecturers an extra £350-£500 a year in pension contributions - a 50% rise. When the changes are introduced in 2015, many will have to work until the age of 67 or 68, rather than 65. Steve Storey, branch chairman of the UCU at Sunderland University, said lecturers in their 20s, 30s and 40s would suffer from the changes. Government ministers criticised the strikes. The immigration minister, Damian Green, said: "This strike is completely unnecessary and we believe the public will find it unacceptable. The security of the UK border is of the utmost importance and we will use contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action. Maude, who has been leading talks over public sector pension reforms with Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action which will benefit no one. We would urge these union leaders to reconsider their position. Maude also dismissed Serwotka's call for more negotiations. "Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action," he added. In March we set out our final proposed agreements on pension reform following more than a year of intensive discussions with trades unions. Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future.