Trade union leaders have met in London today (15th Dec) to discuss the campaign to stop the government from robbing billions of pounds from public sector workers' pensions.Twenty-nine unions - representing more than two million workers - supported strike action on 30 November in protest at government plans to make people pay more and work for longer, for a smaller pension.
Members of the TUC public sector liaison group met this morning and agreed with a PCS proposal to call on the government to provide the extra money necessary to reach a fair settlement.
Before 2 November, central meetings were taking place between trade union leaders and Treasury and Cabinet Office ministers. These public sector wide talks covered government plans to increase pension contributions, increase the retirement age to 68 and cut inflation proofing of pensions from RPI to CPI.
No public sector wide meetings with ministers have taken place since 2 November.
Talks have also been taking place within each of the four major public sector pension schemes covering local government, NHS, teachers, and the civil service. While some progress has been made on peripheral issues, these talks do not deal with the real issues in the long running dispute - paying more and working longer for a smaller pension.
Civil service talks have focused on the details of a new pension scheme for all civil servants from 1 April 2015. However, the proposals assume that members of the new scheme will work longer, until 67 or 68, and include the switch from RPI to CPI uprating. The proposals also assume an increase in contributions will be introduced in April 2012 for all – even those over 50.
With the government refusing to negotiate on the central issues in the dispute, there is little prospect of an agreement.
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The government has seen how strongly people feel about the attacks on pensions. Now is the time for real negotiations – which have to be with ministers, and have sufficient resources to reach a fair settlement”
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