Unions want further talks on local authority pensions
The Government will need to engage in further talks with local authority unions to avert a planned strike over pensions.
Five unions have planned a one-day strike in councils across the UK on March 23 unless agreement can be reached.
Last night, they engaged in talks with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott over the proposed changes to their pension scheme.
In a joint statement released today, they described the talks as “constructive”, but said that further talks would be required early next week.
The unions are angered by plans to raise the retirement and pension age in local authorities ahead of other public services.
Members of Amicus, T&G, Ucatt and Unison have all voted in favour of strike action, while the GMB has balloted members in four regions and will announcing the results in the next couple of days.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Our members who have paid their pension contributions week in, week out are very angry and are not prepared to accept changes by diktat. The average local government pension is just £3,800 a year – not a ‘fat cat’ sum. Low pay within councils means low pensions.”
Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie added: “Our members are extremely concerned about their pension provision, we hope that through continued constructive dialogue further progress can be made.”
In a separate development, teaching union the NUT has announced that it will ballot its members over strike action at the Government’s plans to raise the pensions age from 60 to 65.
NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said: “The Government is not listening to teachers and other public service workers about the injustice of its proposals. I want members to support a one-day strike.”
