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moderates are coming unions talk militant over pensions

Moderate unions have abandoned their neutral stance at the TUC conference to declare a stand against public sector pension reforms, doubling the number of unionists prepared to strike to three million.

Fifteen unions, including strong moderates, have declared their opposition to government plans to increase the age of retirement for public sector employees.

The announcement, made at the TUC conference on Wednesday 14th September, ridiculed attempts by Trade Secretary Alan Milburn to make an offer of a five year delay to the reforms.

The one-day strike could be organised as early as the end of this year, with supporting stoppages by single unions following afterwards.

Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the usually liberal Royal College of Nursing, said: "The message from nurses is clear: they overwhelmingly reject any move to raise their retirement age and feel strongly enough to consider taking industrial action if the need arises."

Major unions were united in militant language to the government, saying they would not "back down".

Janice Godrich, PCS president, said: "If we are to succeed in protecting the futures of the millions of public sector workers then unity needs to continue. There must be no divide and rule by the government."

Dave Prentis, Unison, said: "The employer's initial proposals are a slap in the face for millions of scheme members who have already shown they are prepared to strike to protect their pensions."

The calls for action were followed on Friday 22nd by a series of employer proposals for short-term pension changes sent to the trade union bosses. The proposals have outraged unionists, who see the new proposals as worse than those offered in March, before both sides climbed down for the election.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said: "The Trade Unions and John Prescott narrowly avoided industrial action in March but sadly our predictions that things would only get worse seem to be coming true.

"The GMB believes that there is still room for compromise but not on the employer's terms. We urge Government to help broker a resolution and avoid another confrontation."

Under current proposals, as well as an increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65, there would be other measures such as the withdrawal of final salary pensions, which would leave pensioners with 50% less by 2050.

The unions who have come out in favour of strike action are: Amicus (Local government, NHS, MoD), ATL (Teachers), AUT (lecturers), FBU (Fire brigades), FDA (Senior civil service), GMB (local government), NASUWT(teachers), NATFHE (lecturers), NUT(teachers), PCS (junior civil service), POA (Prison officers), Prospect (local government), RCN (Nursing), TGWU (Local government, NHS, MoD), Unison (local government, NHS).


From Freedom
www.freedompress.org.uk

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