Unions to hold strike ballots over public sector pensions changes

In January 2005, the UK public sector trade union, Unison, announced that it would be holding a ballot of its members in local government over possible strike action against changes to their pension scheme. Other unions are to follow suit. Unions across the public services are campaigning against government-proposed changes to pension schemes involving increased pension ages, moves away from final-salary-based pensions and reduced benefits.

On 27 January 2005, the strike committee of the public sector trade union, Unison, authorised a ballot of its members in local government over whether to take industrial action against proposed changes to the local government pension scheme. Balloting will take place during February and the result will be known on 9 March. Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union subsequently announced that they too would ballot their local government members on the same issue.

Changes to the local government pension scheme are due to take effect in April 2005, including a minimum age of 55 for early retirement and new rules that will discourage retirement at 60 (though the normal retirement age is already 65). The government is proposing further changes for 2006, including basing pensions on basic pay only and increasing employee contribution rates. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: 'We have told the government that our members will not accept these changes to their pension scheme and that we will take action to fight them. Local government workers have very difficult and stressful jobs so forcing them to work longer, and for a smaller pay-out, is unacceptable.'

The government is also proposing changes to a range of other public service pension schemes. Although the changes sought vary between the different public services, a strong common theme is to increase the normal pension age, normally to 65 in schemes which offer pensions at earlier ages. The changes also include moves away from final-salary-based pensions (UK0411107F) and reduced benefits. The biggest civil service union, the Public and Commercial Services Union, is also to ballot members on strikes in protest at government pension plans, and other public service unions are expected to follow suit.

The various public service unions are represented within the Public Service Liaison Group (PSLG) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). In November 2004, the PSLG organised a lobby of Parliament on the theme of 'Protecting public sector pensions'. Following a meeting in December, the PSLG issued a statement announcing their determination to 'campaign strongly' against 'deeply damaging' changes to public service pension schemes. The unions demanded 'genuine negotiation' on any proposed changes, and stated that 'If constructive progress is not made the possibility of industrial action may then arise.'

The PSLG set 18 February 2005 as a nationwide day of campaigning for union members to voice their concerns at the changes the government is planning to make to public sector pension schemes. The PSLG unions said that they were 'united in their desire to preserve decent pensions for workers across the public services. Of particular concern is the government’s determination to increase the retirement age for all public sector workers.'

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said in a statement: 'This issue is not going to go away. Unions and their members are very angry at the changes the government is proposing. There is enormous concern at the impact these proposals will have upon the lives of millions of public sector workers. We are determined to keep up the pressure on the government.'

The TUC is also seeking a meeting with David Milliband, the Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for the government’s Public Services Forum.