Harris Interactive and industrial relations company Marshall-James have commissioned a poll that has shown that opinion is very much split across the UK's working population as to the anticipated value and effectiveness of the proposed day of industrial action on 30 June.
The Harris poll, conducted in association with Marshall-James, the UK's only specialist firm of dedicated employee and industrial relations advisors, canvassed opinion from over 1000 working adults from a cross section of the private (71%) and public sector (23%).
Only 32% support strike action with 40% opposing and 28% expressing neither support nor opposition.
Significantly, 33% anticipate that it will lead to further Government clamp downs, encourage more industrial action (25%) and lead to public sector workers being held in lower regard (29%).
Just 20% believe that it will lead to a rethink of pension changes; the root cause of this specific industrial action.
Andy Cook, CEO of Marshall-James said: "I think this poll demonstrates that public sympathy is difficult for the unions to secure. Many Private sector workers will look at the pensions enjoyed by a majority of Public Sector workers with a degree of envy, particularly as they fund the schemes through taxes. This issue is set to run and run through the summer and autumn and I predict more unions will take action. The challenge will be to co-ordinate the strikes so they all happen at the same time, but there will be disruption both on the 30 June and throughout the year".
And as teachers prepare to go on strike tomorrow, prompting the closure of thousands of schools across the country, many parents will be forced to stay at home and look after their children.
But lawyers have warned those employers that attempt to discipline parents who fail to turn up for work could find themselves falling foul of the law.
Employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to deal with 'the unexpected disruption, termination or breakdown of arrangements for the care of a dependant'.
Therefore they are protected from dismissal or disciplinary action providing they inform their employer.
Jim Lister, head of employment at Manchester law firm Pannone, said: "As there is no general legal obligation to pay parents unable to get into work, they are entitled to unpaid leave following the breakdown of arrangements for the care of their children.
"Therefore, employers who attempt to discipline parents for not turning up for work could find themselves falling foul of the law.
"Employers have a number of options including reducing a parent's pay, asking them to work from home, allowing them to use holiday entitlement or agree to pay them on the condition that they make up the lost time by working unpaid overtime at a later date. "
