Support Continues to Grow for the Day of Action on the 30th of November 2011
Support for the day of action by public service workers over changes to our pension schemes continues to grow.
Hundreds and thousands of UNISON members, are furious, frustrated, and shocked at the government’s plans to take money out of public service pensions schemes.
If the government proposals go ahead our members have told us that they will need to rethink their retirement plans, and many can’t see how they will be able to continue to do highly physical jobs until their late sixties.
Nurses, paramedics, refuse collectors, street cleaners, and police civilian staff are amongst those public service workers who stand to lose substantial sums of money as a result of proposed changes to their pension schemes.
We now know that somewhere in the region of 3 million public service workers will be participating in this day of action, these include the civil service and teaching unions.
Our hope is that the government will get down to serious negotiations.
On the 30th of November Picket lines will be going up in front of Police Stations, Hospitals, Council Offices, Colleges and schools across the Thames Valley area.
It is UNISON’s intention to actively engage with the public, so we will be talking to the public, handing out leaflets, and speaking at rallies from one end of the Thames Valley to the other.
A UNISON spokesperson said
“Our members are not asking for much – they’re doing the responsible thing, going without between 5 and 8% of their salary to save for their retirement. When they do get their pension, it won’t be a fortune – the average pension in local government is £3,800 a year, but for women, it’s less than £2,800 – just £56 a week. Over half of women pensioners in the NHS receive a pension of less than £3,500 a year hardly a gold plated pension..If government ministers were really interested in pensions fairness, they would be tackling the real pensions crisis – the lack of retirement provision in the private sector. Two thirds of private sector workers do not get a single penny from their employers towards their pension. Although this will cost taxpayers billions in means tested benefits in the long run, its still used to pit private sector against public sector – fuelling a damaging narrative that could lead to poverty in retirement for all.”
A number of rallies are planned for the day – details from http://www.unison.org.uk/southeast/
