Civil service trade unions have pledged to ballot up to 54,000 managers this autumn if the Government presses ahead with plans to impose a hike on pension contributions from April 2012.

Prospect, representing 36,000 professionals and specialists and the FDA, which represents 18,000 senior public servants, have made a joint announcement making the case that pension reform cannot be separated from the overall reward package and that reforms agreed in 2007 demonstrate commitment to long-term pensions sustainability.