Commenting ahead of the public sector strikes across the country tomorrow, Green party leader Caroline Lucas today said she planned to join the picket line.

Many teachers and other public sector workers have contacted me over the past week to express hope that striking wouldn’t be necessary – that the Prime Minister would start taking their pension concerns seriously. Sadly the Coalition Government’s relentless attack on this country’s public servants has left them with no choice.

We know that public sector pensions are affordable – this is really about piling the UK’s debt burden onto the people who did the least to create it. I believe that fair pensions are worth fighting for, so I will be joining the picket lines in solidarity with my constituents who have been abandoned by the other main Westminster parties.

This isn’t something I do lightly. I regret the disruption caused by industrial action and think it must only be used in special circumstances – and would urge trade unions to work hard to ensure support from the wider public.

Yet when teachers are being expected to pay 50% more in pension contributions, work longer and get less pension when they retire – and when negotiations are failing – targeted and considered action is clearly necessary.

On Twitter, Labour MPs such as John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn also said they planned to join picket lines tomorrow in solidarity with unions.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

2. Sue Marsh

   Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

3. Clive Burgess

   Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

4. James Haslam

   RT @libcon Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA >> this is one of the reasons I voted Green #fairness

5. Mark Everden

   Caroline Lucas on why she'll be on picket lines http://bit.ly/lhEAhA – at least one party leader has some principles.

6. Anthony Parker

   Caroline Lucas on why she'll be on picket lines http://bit.ly/lhEAhA – at least one party leader has some principles.

7. Andy S

   Caroline Lucas on why she'll be on picket lines http://bit.ly/lhEAhA – at least one party leader has some principles.

8. Anthony Parker

   Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/iNdZPL3 via @libcon <good on Lucas &John McDonnell! #j30

9. Kevin Morris

   Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/Bq8SOci via @libcon

10. Pamela Heywood

    "Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy" ( http://bit.ly/lxryH7 )

11. -

    Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

12. Declan Burns

    Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/iNdZPL3 via @libcon <good on Lucas &John McDonnell! #j30

13. Matt Jeffs

    Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/iNdZPL3 via @libcon <good on Lucas &John McDonnell! #j30

14. Brian Bailey

    Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://t.co/c5YOiRn via @libcon good to see one party leader has a backbone.

15. Tony Martin

    RT @libcon: Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA << Green Party leader. Join the Green Party.

16. James Lock

    Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

17. James Davies

    Lucas: I’ll be joining picket lines tomorrow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/7Q5AS9x via @libcon #j30

18. Panda

    Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

19. Martin Eve

    Caroline Lucas: I'll be joining picket lines tomorrow http://bit.ly/lhEAhA

20. Life: Downloaded

    @eljmayes This Liberal Conspiracy article has more information (if you haven't read it already): http://ldshort.com/5e #strikes #june30 #PCS

21. Getting Greener « Media Studies is Shit

    [...] that’s all fine and dandy. But how come Caroline Lucas is visiting the picket lines today, while Labour leader Ed Miliband is unable to even make the most piecemeal utterance of [...]