Strike action could cause chaos

UNISON is urging members to vote for industrial action over planned changes to public sector pensions

CO-ORDINATED strike action could plunge schools and public services into chaos in West Berkshire next month.

UNISON members in the district are being urged to vote for strike action over planned changes to public sector pensions, which the public services union claims will force employees to work longer, pay more, and get less when they retire.

From today (Tuesday), UNISON members in the UNISON South East region will start receiving ballot papers as part of the biggest industrial action ballot in UK history, with the union urging health, local government and education workers to vote for industrial action.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) recently sent out voting forms to 125 headteachers and deputy headteachers in West Berkshire about possible industrial action in November amid anger over cuts to their retirement fund.

Should they vote to strike, it is understood that action is likely to be co-ordinated with other unions, including UNISON, on November 30.

The UNISON ballot is being held following the start of a consultation into the Government's draft proposals to change local government pensions, which aims to deliver short-term savings of about £900m by 2014/15.

The paper proposes to phase in an increase in employees' pension contributions from April 2012 to raise an additional £450m and a change in the accrual rate from April 2013 aims to raise an additional £450m, or 1.5 per cent of pay.

UNISON has claimed that strike action is a “last resort” but that eight months of talks have got them nowhere.

Regional secretary for UNISON in the South East, Phil Wood, said: “We want a massive Yes vote in this region. As ballot papers start dropping through people's doors, UNISON will be stepping up its campaign to show that the government's plans are not about pensions. They are a tax on low paid workers – every penny will go towards mopping up after the banker's recession.

“A pensions crisis has been whipped up, but the reality is, that in the public sector, there isn't one. Reforms made only four years ago, mean that both the council and health workers schemes are billions of pounds cash rich every year. And on top of pay freezes at a time of inflation, and heavy job losses – public sector workers are being pushed too far.”

He added: “Our members do their jobs to serve their communities – they do not want to harm the public. But they know they can count on the support of local people in their fight for decent pensions.”

Local Government Minister Bob Neill said that Lord Hutton's review of public service pensions set out why they need to be reformed to more fairly protect taxpayers.

In announcing the consultation on Friday, he said: “Today's pension proposals set out a way to save £900m over the next three years that protects low earners from excessive increases – those who earn less will be asked to pay in less than high earners in the scheme.

“We will continue to engage with local government and trade unions throughout the consultation as they have a key role to play.

“We hope all parties will take the time to consider these proposals in a constructive manner.”

The consultation actuarially acknowledges that a lower contribution tariff increase offset by a larger change in accrual rate, or vice versa, could also deliver the required level of savings.

The closing date for responses is January 6, 2012.

Details of the consultation paper can be found by clicking the link below.