Unions prepare to strike over pension reforms

24 Feb 05
The government is facing an unprecedented wave of public sector-wide strikes over pension reforms just weeks before an expected general election.

25 February 2005

The government is facing an unprecedented wave of public sector-wide strikes over pension reforms just weeks before an expected general election.

As talks failed in local government last week, Whitehall's FDA and Public and Commercial Services unions announced they were balloting to join the planned day of action on March 23.

The unions claim they have no choice but to strike because fundamental reforms – such as raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 and the introduction of 'average salary' schemes – were being forced on members without negotiation. They argued that having to work longer before retirement would deprive members of pension contributions: some claim by as much as 25%, depending on age.

For the FDA, the moderate senior civil servants' union, this will be the first national strike since 1984 and demonstrates the depth of public servants' fury, particularly over the changes to retirement age. The union, however, will only strike for half a day.

'We are not seeking to bring the government to its knees,' said FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume. 'Changes should be the result of dialogue and debate, not a government diktat.'

Unions now balloting for action are Unison – with more than a million members – the T&G, PCS, the FDA as well as the National Union of Teachers. The colleges and lecturers union, Natfhe, is balloting members for a strike on April 14, which could turn into a second day of action from other unions.

The Fire Brigades Union and the GMB have yet to decide whether to ballot. A spokesman for the GMB said its regions and branches were 'moving towards that' but could not confirm that it would join the action on March 23.

The strikes among local government workers will make little difference to reforms that are due to take effect from April.

The deadline to avert raising the retirement age and withdrawing the 85-year rule, that allows workers to access their pension once their combined age and length of service surpasses 85 years, passed this week.

Eleventh-hour talks broke up late last week with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott apparently considered delaying the changes until after the election but with no guarantees of a formal repeal or negotiations. The changes come in a year before reforms to other public sector pensions are due.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis urged members to vote for strike action. He has called the changes a 'slap in the face' for loyal Labour activists and public sector workers.

PFfeb2005

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