Public sector strike threat over pensions

Wednesday, 14 September 2005 12:00 AM

A strike by three million public sector workers could be on the cards if the government forces a rise in the pension age, union leaders warned today.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka went so far as to say action was "absolutely inevitable" if the government proceeded with its plans to force public sector employees to work until 65.

Efforts to do this earlier in the year prompted a threat of a strike just six weeks before the general election. The government backed down, and is now in negotiations over the issue.

Speaking to the TUC in Brighton today, trade and industry secretary Alan Johnson admitted they were wrong to try to force through its plans, saying unions have a right to discuss any changes to pension arrangements.

But the anger within the trade union movement at further attempts to change pensions is palpable, and this boiled over following Mr Johnson's speech.

"Alan has played for time today - there are not any new commitments," said Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison.

He described attempts to forcibly raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 as "absolutely insulting" and warned that the government had failed to realise the strength of feeling surrounding the issue.

Last night general secretaries of all 13 public sector unions agreed to back the TUC's pension campaign - which insists workers should not be forced to work beyond 60, although they should be allowed that option.

And unions agreed that if their demands were not met, industrial action on a scale not seen since the 1926 general strike was a serious possibility.

"Our message to Alan Johnson is to listen to the debate. We won't stand by and see pension promises torn up in front of our eyes," said Mr Serwotka, head of a union representing 300,000 mainly civil service members.

He insisted PCS would have no hesitation in taking action, and warned that all 13 unions in the sector, as well as possibly the Royal College of Nursing, "are determined to be united in our approach to things".

"If the government imposed a compulsory rise in pension age then action is absolutely inevitable," Mr Serwotka said.

Mr Prentis, however, stressed that industrial action was a "last resort" and said unions would continue to work to negotiate a settlement. They are due to meet with Mr Johnson next week.

The TUC is opposed to the compulsory rise because it believes many workers in physically demanding jobs, such as paramedics and nurses, are unable to work beyond 60.

What they are calling for is flexible retirement ages, and Pensions Commission chair Adair Turner, who addressed congress this morning, said this was one thing he was looking at.

He wants to see a move towards "greater flexibility", where somebody could take half a state pension and continue to work part time until they take the other half.

He was less approving of the other main motion put by the TUC, however, that of introducing compulsory employer contributions. Mr Turner warned that in the only other comparable country where this has happened - Australia - cash wages have fallen.

Overall, he failed to give any real indication of what his commission's recommendations would be when it reports on November 30th, other than warning that there would be "no easy choices".

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