Unions threaten pension strikes (From Croydon Guardian)

Unions threaten pension strikes

5:34pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

The Government is facing the threat of renewed industrial action over its controversial pension reforms after unions representing hundreds of thousands of NHS workers, civil servants and teachers raised the prospect of fresh walkouts.

Unite said it planned to ballot its 100,000 members in the NHS with a recommendation that they reject the proposals, complaining there had been no substantive changes from what was on the table last year.

The executive of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said it would propose to members that further action was necessary, while leaders of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) decided to ballot 250,000 civil servants on continuing its campaign of opposition, warning of possible co-ordinated strikes on March 28.

Up to two million public sector workers staged a one day strike in November in protest at the pension changes and, although some progress has been made, the dispute remains unresolved.

The Government has been embroiled in the dispute for over a year after announcing an average increase of 3.2% in the amount workers pay towards their pensions with the aim of saving £2.8 billion by 2014/15.

Ministers expressed optimism before Christmas that agreements could be reached in four schemes covering local government workers, NHS staff, civil servants and teachers, but the dispute remains unresolved.

Unite said if there was no significant movement by the time of the Government's "self-imposed" deadline of February 20, it would press ahead with a ballot of 100,000 NHS workers.

General secretary Len McCluskey said: "There have been no substantive changes from what was on the table before Christmas. Our hard-working members will still be expected to pay more, work longer and get less when they retire. Our members are deeply unhappy at the Government's stance and we will be holding a consultative ballot to reaffirm our members' position - the prospect of further strike action will be very real, unless ministers move on their hardline position."

Christine Blower General Secretary of the 300,000-strong NUT said: "The NUT is continuing its campaign to save teachers pensions. As a recent survey of NUT members showed, teachers do not accept the Government's position that teachers will have to pay more, work longer and get less. The executive of the NUT will be proposing to its members that further strike action is necessary."

Leaders of the Fire Brigades Union warned of a "rapid move" for a strike ballot among 45,000 firefighters after finding the Government's pension proposals "unacceptable".