Civil service strike threat over pensions

Tuesday, 30 August 2005 12:00 AM

The government has been issued with a fresh warning that failure to resolve the current public sector pensions debate could lead to industrial action.

Public sector union Unison has hinted that if progress is not made over proposals to raise the retirement age, last October's strike could be repeated.

Threats of fresh walkouts intensified earlier this year over the government's plans to shift the retirement age from 60 to 65.

Experts estimate that increased life expectancy has led to a pensions gap of almost £30 billion in local government pension schemes. One way to help plug the gap would be to increase retirement age.

But unions feel it is unfair to increase the age when workers can collect their pensions, and that other solutions are available.

Unions and the government are currently in talks to try and resolve differences.

But Unison's chief negotiator Malcolm Wing today said preparations are being made should negotiations fail.

He told Radio Four's World at One that unions "will strongly resist attempts by government to impose a compulsory increase in the age of retirement from 60 to 65".

On further industrial action, he added: "We are also preparing for the negotiations to fail. Our members feel very strongly as most people do about their pensions."

But talk of strikes was still premature.

"We've had two meetings with [pensions minister] Alan Johnson plus a summit shortly before the election and we're making good progress.

"We've got a further meeting on the September 21st. We're hopeful we can strike an agreement. We're engaged in a process of negotiations and we want these negotiations to succeed."

Currently the government is maintaining its position, he explained, but is open to persuasion.

"As far as we're concerned we have a strong case for retaining a normal pensionable age of 60 but introducing some flexibility in when people retire."

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