Action to defend our pensions!

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of the result of the strike ballots amongst members
of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) has been postponed for
last-minute negotiations to take place. The announcement is now due to
be made at a joint press conference of the key unions involved on 15
March, if no agreement is struck in the negotiations.

In preliminary meetings over the last few days, the government’s
figures have been shown to be flawed. UNISON has produced figures
contradicting those supplied by the government actuaries.

Council workers are furious about the attacks on their pensions and
the likelihood of a big majority for strike action in the ballot, has
helped push the government into further negotiations.

One of the worst aspects of the government’s attacks is the abolition
of the right to retire at 60 if you have at least 25 years’ service –
the ’85-year rule’. UNISON has pointed out that under the current
proposals, the arbitrary effect of abolishing this right would mean if
Tony Blair was a member of the LGPS, he would have to work an extra five
years or retire on less money. Gordon Brown, a couple of years older,
would be able to retire at 60.

Fortunately for them, Gordon and Tony have made sure their generous
pensions are safe. But even before these attacks were proposed, LGPS
members did not have much to look forward to in their retirement. Their
average pension is less than £4,000 a year, a far cry from the MPs’
£40,000. Women pensioners are getting an average of £31 a week.

LGPS members don’t just work for local government. They provide
essential services in, for example, higher and further education, fire
and rescue services, probation and all over the voluntary sector. Many
of these workers have been paying into the scheme for decades.

If the strike goes ahead it will be on 28 and 29 March. But many
other workers are facing attacks on their pensions, throughout the
public and private sectors. That is why the TUC should call a national
demonstration to link together the battles to defend pensions and turn
workers’ anger into effective action.

No top people’s pensions at Harrods

THE TOP people’s store wants to close its final salary pension scheme
to existing and new employees in April. They want to introduce a money
purchase scheme.

The company has refused to negotiate with Amicus, which represents
100 engineers and maintenance workers, and the TGWU which represents
distribution and warehouse workers. Both unions are consulting their
members over holding a strike ballot. There are 1,500 members of the
pension scheme.