Pensions

Taxing capital to pay for pensions

Robin Blackburn, author of Banking on Death, or, Investing in Life: The history and future of pensions , spoke at the AWL London forum on 17 February 2005. This is a transcript of his speech and the discussion. The pension issue is the one which has proved time and again that it can get really large numbers of working people fighting for their rights and for a better world. In the 1990s three European governments were overthrown as a result of strikes, demonstrations, and agitation relating to pensions. The most dramatic example was the November-December 1995 strike of French workers against...

Keeping pushing for united action!

By a Unison member As Solidarity goes to press, union plans for action over the Government’s plans to cut public sector pensions are in flux. The civil service union PCS and the local government unions, mainly Unison, were due to strike on 23 March. On 14 February the college lecturers’ union NATFHE announced it would ballot its members for a strike on 14 April, which could be joint action with the school teachers’ union NUT and Unison members in education. The NUT is conducting an “indicative” ballot, area by area, on what action its members want to take on pensions. This is likely to lead to...

Unison ballot goes ahead for 23 March strike

The public services union Unison has issued this circular to the secretaries of its local government branches. Dear branch secretary, The current position is that we have not yet received an undertaking to annul the Regulations [for changes in the local government pension scheme] unconditionally, so the ballot papers are being sent out. (They go out over 3 days. ) We therefore need to make sure there is a really good branch campaign for a big turnout and a big 'yes' vote, to keep the pressure up on the Government and national employers.... If the Government does decide to annul the Regulations...

Second pensions strike on 14 April?

The college lecturers' union NATFHE has announced a ballot for strike action against the Government's plan to cut back pension provision. According to NATFHE, "Lecturers will be balloted on a recommendation to take strike action over government plans which the union says will seriously worsen the pensions of thousands of lecturers. If members support the strike proposal, the likely date for strike action is 14 April. This may be done in conjunction with other unions with members in education, for example schoolteachers' union NUT, and UNISON".

All out for pensions on 23 March!

The Government has announced its intention that the pension retirement age for public sector workers should be 65. On top of that they want to replace “final salary” schemes by “career average” schemes. They flagged up these intentions a long time ago — the change to the pension age was announced in a Green Paper more than two years ago — yet only in the last few months has the trade union movement really started to react. The civil service union, PCS, has urged a co-ordinated response. That work is now paying off. As we go to press all local government workers represented by Unison, T&G and...

Pensions Campaign Day: Friday 18 February

Local union branches and trades councils are getting together for the TUC pensions day of action on Friday 18 February, and preparing for strikes on Wednesday 23 March . What’s happening in your area? Birmingham Birmingham Trades Council activists’ meeting. Thursday 3 February, 7.30pm, Council House, Birmingham City Centre. Speakers include Roger McKenzie, TUC Regional Secretary. Bolton Friday 18 February: joint union rally on Bolton Town Hall steps between 12 and 1pm. Cardiff Friday 18 February: possible protests directed at the Welsh Assembly. Manchester Friday 18 February: lunchtime: rally...

Tax the rich to pay for pensions!

The Socialist Green Unity Coalition - an alliance formed in 2005 which includes the Alliance for Workers' Liberty together with the Alliance for Green Socialism, Socialist Alliance, Socialist Party, and Socialist Unity Network - has agreed to launch a campaign on pensions in response to the Turner Commission report. Click "read more" for campaign material. A public campaign meeting, sponsored by SGUC and with speakers from pensioners' organisations and trade unions, has already been held in Leeds on 12 December 2005 . Others will follow in other cities. Download campaign material here...

National strike ballot for local government workers

Transport & General Workers Union Press Release , 1 February 2005: The T&G has today announced its intention to ballot members in local government for industrial action over pensions. The T&G's announcement comes shortly after the biggest union in local government, UNISON, declared that it would also be balloting members on the same issue. The T&G says that members are angry about plans to make local government workers "work longer for less", and consultations with members have indicated that they are prepared to take action to fight the pension changes. Peter Allenson, T&G National Secretary...

Organise for strike action on pensions

The TUC has called a national day of campaigning over changes to public sector pensions on 18 February. The changes vary across the public sector but all public sector workers will face a higher retirement age, and some will lose final salary schemes. The civil service union PCS has announced that it “is discussing with key public sector unions representing local government workers, teachers, lecturers, and firefighters the possibility of a one-day public sector protest strike in March”. NATFHE is currently holding a ballot and Unison has organised a consultative ballot. It is likely to...

Unison and NUT ballot for pensions strikes

The public services union Unison will ballot its members in local government for a strike in defence of pensions. The ballot will close on 9 March. Around 28 January, the word was that the strike might be on 17 March, opening the possibility of joint action with teaching unions. But the word now is that the day will be 23 March - in the Easter school holidays. Amicus, TGWU, and according to some accounts GMB, are also reportedly planning to ballot their members in local government. FBU is consulting its members. The National Union of Teachers is balloting its members area by area (so that...

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