LONDON (Reuters) – An outline agreement has been reached covering health workers’ pensions, union sources said on Monday, in a sign a broader breakthrough could be imminent in a bitter dispute with the government over public sector pension reform.

The heated row drew hundreds of thousands of workers out on strike last month in the biggest national walkout for decades and unions have threatened more stoppages next year.

LONDON (Reuters) – Divisions over Europe within the coalition government were exposed on Sunday when David Cameron’s deputy said an EU summit that ended with the prime minister deploying his veto was a “bitter disappointment” and “bad for Britain.”

However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who heads the smaller, pro-Europe Liberal Democrats, denied that the coalition which took office under the Conservative Cameron in May 2010 might now collapse.

LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Divisions over Europe
within Britain’s coalition government were exposed on Sunday
when David Cameron’s deputy said an EU summit that ended with
the prime minister deploying his veto was a “bitter
disappointment” and “bad for Britain”.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who heads the
smaller, pro-Europe Liberal Democrats, denied that the coalition
which took office under the Conservative Cameron in May 2010
might now collapse.

LONDON/BRUSSELS, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Thousands of
workers were staging strikes and demonstrations on Wednesday at
European plants of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest
steelmaker, in what unions said was a protest against job
insecurity.

The European Metalworkers Federation (EMF) said strikes
ranging from two hours per shift to a 24-hour walkout would take
place at plants in Belgium, France and Luxembourg, with
stoppages also expected in Italy, Spain and at some sites in
Germany. Sites in Poland and the Czech Republic were also
expected to suffer some disruption, it said.

LONDON (Reuters) – British judges ruled on Monday that Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, could take his year-long fight against extradition to Sweden to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

Swedish authorities want to question the 40-year-old Australian over accusations of rape and sexual assault made by two female former WikiLeaks volunteers in August 2010.

LONDON (Reuters) – The government said on Thursday it was hopeful of reaching a deal to reform public sector pensions a day after hundreds of thousands of workers walked out over the issue, but unions called for genuine negotiations.

Ministers involved in the discussions appeared to soften their tone after saying for weeks there was no more money on the table and that a “generous” offer made in early November was final and could be withdrawn.

BIRMINGHAM (Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers went on strike on Wednesday to protest over pension reform, in a walkout billed by unions as the biggest in a generation but derided by Prime Minister David Cameron as a “damp squib”.

Unions and the government were each quick to claim victory, with union leaders saying up to two million teachers, nurses, border guards and other workers took part. The government disputed the turnout and played down the strike’s impact.

LONDON (Reuters) – Teachers, nurses and border guards walked out on Wednesday as up to two million state workers staged Britain’s first mass strike for more than 30 years in a growing confrontation with a deficit-cutting coalition government.

Public sector employees are protesting over reforms that unions say will force them to work for longer before they can retire, and pay more for pensions which will be worth less.

LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Teachers, hospital staff
and border guards walked out on Wednesday as up to two million
state workers staged Britain’s first mass strike for more than
30 years, adding to pressure on a government facing an economy
flirting with recession.

Public sector employees are protesting over reforms that
unions say will force them to work for longer before they can
retire, and pay more for pensions which will be worth less.

LONDON (Reuters) – Teachers, hospital staff and border guards will be among workers taking part in Britain’s first mass strike for more than 30 years on Wednesday, adding to pressure on a coalition facing a weakening economy.

Up to 2 million public sector workers are protesting over reforms that unions say will force them to pay more for their pensions and work for longer before they can retire.