31 March 2006
The local government pensions dispute remains in deadlock, despite emergency talks convened by the government this week following a one-day strike that disrupted council services across the UK.
The trades unions are warning there will be further industrial action after the talks – held on March 29 between ministers at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the local government employers and trade union representatives — broke up without agreement.
Heather Wakefield, Unison's national secretary for local government, told Public Finance after the meeting that the campaign will be stepped up.
She warned that if ministers scrap the 85-year rule, thereby increasing the earliest retirement age from 60 to 65, the unions will respond with a series of strikes.
'We had more action planned and, as things stand, we will go ahead with it,' Wakefield said. 'All LGPS members want is the same protection that every other public sector pension scheme has already been given by the government.'
Wakefield refused to be drawn on the timing of future action but it is thought likely that it will coincide with the local elections on May 4, which are overseen by town hall staff.
She was speaking the day after a national one-day strike on March 28, in which the unions say more than 1 million workers left their posts. The Local Government Association disputed this figure, claiming the figure was nearer 400,000.
LGA chair Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, speaking on the day of the strike, said: 'The changes to local government staff pensions are both needed and necessary. There must be a modern scheme that is affordable.'
PFmar2006
