16 March 2006

More than a million to strike over pension cuts

NATFHE has given its support to members of nine public service unions whose members have overwhelmingly voted 'yes' to go on strike over cuts to their pensions.

Members of UNISON, TGWU, GMB, NIPSA, NAPO, AEP, NUT, UCATT AND CYWU, yesterday voted in favour of an all-out strike on Tuesday, March 28, over unjust cuts to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Members of AMICUS voted 9-1 in favour of the strike last week. More than a million members will join in the walk-out which will be followed by a programme of further action including regional, selective and national action.

The government wants to introduce cuts to the LGPS that mean existing members of the scheme will now have to work until they are 65 not 60 as they had planned for. The cuts will impact disproportionately on women who make up 73% of the members of the LGPS. Almost two-thirds (60%) of members of the scheme are part-time workers.

Roger Kline, NATFHE's head of universities, said:

'We are outraged by the actions of the employers towards these hard-working support staff. We notice that government ministers don't apply the same standards to themselves.

'We wish members of the nine unions every success for this action. We shall encourage NATFHE members to show their support by visiting picket lines on March 28. We shall also urge them not to step in to cover the duties of absent support staff.'

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