THE biggest strike in almost a century could be on its way, a local union chief says.

From today, and for the next three weeks, up to 14,000 Huddersfield workers could vote on strike action in one of the biggest ever union industrial action ballots.

The strike action vote relates to changes in public sector pensions with workers facing increased contributions, waiting longer to retire and receiving worse pensions.

In Huddersfield there will be three ballots affecting council workers, health workers and civil servants.

Paul Holmes from Kirklees Unison explained: “We’ll have three ballots because of the differences in pensions.

“In one there will be council workers, schools, Kirklees College, New College, Greenhead College, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, sports centres and the university, because they’re a former polytechnic.

“Then there’ll be a ballot for civil servants and then another for health workers.

“In Unison we’ve about 8,000 council workers, and I think there will be nearer to 13,000 or 14,000 when you take the others into account.”

The National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and the University and College Union (UCU) have already been balloted and voted in favour of strike action.

Mr Holmes added: “There was a massive turnout by the unions which have already voted and I think we’ll have a massive turnout too, maybe 80% to 90% yes votes. My advice to the government is to listen.