17 June 2011 Last updated at 21:40 ET 
The government said on Friday the pension deal on offer was the best the unions would get for many years.
Mr Prentis told The Guardian he still hoped to negotiate a settlement.
The Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said unions would make a "colossal mistake" if they rejected the coalition government's plan.
The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Privately, talks are continuing between the trade unions and the Treasury about the government's proposals but publicly the two sides are locked in a war of words."
The government wants to reform public sector pensions - meaning a later retirement age and higher contributions for most workers - and claims the current pension system is unaffordable in the long-term.
Teachers' unions in England and Wales have already voted to strike on 30 June to protect their pensions.
The strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will disrupt thousands of schools.
Unison has 1.3 million members and they have not yet been balloted on industrial action.
Mr Prentis said if strikes did happen they would be the biggest since the General Strike of 1926 and, unlike the miners' strike in 1984/5, the unions would win.
Public sector workers are already facing heavy job cuts and a pay freeze.
Mr Prentis said: "I strongly believe that one day of industrial action will not change anyone's mind in government... we are prepared for rolling action over an indefinite period."
He also called on the Labour Party to support Unison's battle against the pension reforms.
Mr Prentis, whose union is affiliated to Labour, said: "We want our Labour Party to be the voice of opposition. We're worried that some of the senior people in the party still have to make statements as if they are in power, not opposition.
"If the Labour Party stays quiet that will be an issue," he added.
Unison's Prentis warns of massive strikes over pensions
Many Unison members work in the NHS
The leader of Britain's biggest trade union says public sector workers could mount the biggest industrial action campaign since the General Strike.
Unison's Dave Prentis said the unions were prepared for "sustained and indefinite" strikes in protest at the government's pension plans.The government said on Friday the pension deal on offer was the best the unions would get for many years.
Mr Prentis told The Guardian he still hoped to negotiate a settlement.
The Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said unions would make a "colossal mistake" if they rejected the coalition government's plan.
The BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Privately, talks are continuing between the trade unions and the Treasury about the government's proposals but publicly the two sides are locked in a war of words."
The government wants to reform public sector pensions - meaning a later retirement age and higher contributions for most workers - and claims the current pension system is unaffordable in the long-term.
Continue reading the main story
Current public sector pensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Employee contribution | Pension age |
| *Depending on scheme. Source: IPSPC | ||
| Teachers | 6.4% | 60 or 65 |
| NHS | 5.5 - 8.5% | 60 or 65 |
| Civil service | 1.5 or 3.5%* | 60 or 65 |
| Police | 9.5% or 11%* | 55 |
| Firefighters | 8.5% or 11%* | 55 or 60 |
| Military | 0% | 55 |
| Local govt | 5.5 - 7.5% | 65 |
Mr Alexander said the government was proposing public sector workers - bar the armed forces, police and fire service - would receive their occupational pension at the same time as the state pension in future.
Many can currently receive a full pension at 60. The state pension age is due to rise to 66 for both men and women by April 2020. Teachers' unions in England and Wales have already voted to strike on 30 June to protect their pensions.
The strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will disrupt thousands of schools.
Unison has 1.3 million members and they have not yet been balloted on industrial action.
Mr Prentis said if strikes did happen they would be the biggest since the General Strike of 1926 and, unlike the miners' strike in 1984/5, the unions would win.
Mr Alexander claimed the unions were "hell bent" on strikes
Unison has members working for local authorities, the NHS, colleges and the police.Public sector workers are already facing heavy job cuts and a pay freeze.
Mr Prentis said: "I strongly believe that one day of industrial action will not change anyone's mind in government... we are prepared for rolling action over an indefinite period."
He also called on the Labour Party to support Unison's battle against the pension reforms.
Mr Prentis, whose union is affiliated to Labour, said: "We want our Labour Party to be the voice of opposition. We're worried that some of the senior people in the party still have to make statements as if they are in power, not opposition.
"If the Labour Party stays quiet that will be an issue," he added.
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