"The trade unions put forward proposals that the local government employers believed they could not commit to at this stage".  UNISON is hoping that the new pensions deal announced for other public service workers last month could lead the way for similar protections for local government.

In October, the Public Services Forum agreed a deal that gave protection for existing pension benefits and current retirement age of 60 for members of the NHS, teachers, civil service and schemes.

"We have to ensure that employers do not in any way seek to undermine this agreement," said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis at the time. Heather Wakefield reiterated there could now be no excuse for the employers or government to proceed with proposals to reduce benefits and increase employee contributions for local government workers.

She said that the PSF deal must be implemented by employers and must also be applied to the local government pension scheme negotiations.