Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for both sides involved in Tuesday's nationwide council strike to return swiftly to negotiations.
Between 400,000 and one million staff walked out in protest at plans to scrap a scheme allowing many to retire at 60 without suffering a financial penalty.
Mr Prescott told the Commons he "regretted" the event and called for "jaw-jaw" rather than "war-war".
It comes as unions held talks with the government to avert further strikes.
Union leaders put forward proposals they believed would help resolve the row.
They are now waiting for the government to respond before deciding whether to call fresh strikes, after Tuesday's action crippled many council services across the UK.
'Not necessary'
At Commons question time, Mr Prescott, standing in for Tony Blair, told MPs: "It is an obvious regret that yesterday's industrial action was taken by the trade unions.
"To be honest, during the course of negotiations, I didn't feel it was necessary because the negotiations could have continued."
Mr Prescott stressed that it was his responsibility, as regulator of the local government pensions scheme, to ensure the scheme was "viable".
Union officials say the UK-wide strike was joined by more than one million workers.
Rule of 85
Employers estimated that 400,000 staff in England had taken part.
At the centre of the dispute is the so-called Rule of 85.
This allows council employees to retire at 60 without suffering a cut in the pension accrued to that point, provided their age and years of service add up to 85.
The government argues this is discriminatory against those who do not qualify and hopes that an alternative solution can be found.
But Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, has warned that unions are digging in for a long dispute.
Tuesday's action, by 11 unions, was the biggest stoppage in the UK since the 1926 General Strike, unions say.
Workers supporting the walkout included leisure centre workers, school staff - such as caretakers, cooks, cleaners and office workers - refuse collectors, housing officers, nursery nurses, youth and community staff and tourism officials.
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