Fear of mass strikes over public pensions

THE threat of the biggest wave of industrial action since the 1926 General Strike came a step closer yesterday when the government failed to calm fears over the pensions of millions of public sector workers.

Leaders of 13 unions representing more than three million workers in the NHS, local government, the civil service, education, fire service and other parts of the public sector pledged a joint campaign against controversial plans to increase the pension age from 60 to 65.

Alan Johnson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, who is leading government efforts to resolve the row, got a lukewarm reaction when he addressed the TUC Congress in Brighton.

He expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached but made it clear that the government was pressing ahead with its aim of changing the "retirement at 60 ethos".

Dave Prentis, the general secretary of Unison, issued a blunt warning that unions were more united than ever and were prepared to strike.

He said the government had underestimated the anger of workers and had failed to understand the outrage they felt, which had been made worse by politicians and company directors receiving huge increases in their own pensions.

"We are stronger and more united than ever before and we will take strike action to defend our pensions."

Mr Prentis said he had never known such anger among public sector workers, adding: "We want to get a negotiated settlement and we don't want to take industrial action, but the government has to get its act together."

Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said he had no doubt civil servants would vote to strike "in their tens of thousands" if no deal was reached.

"People feel that the government is playing around with their future. A strike would have a significant impact on a whole spectrum of services and in the long term it could break the bond between the government and its employees.

"If the government imposes an increase in the pension age, industrial action is absolutely inevitable."

Nurses leaders last night joined in the criticism. Dr Beverly Malone, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "We remain deeply dismayed that the government still seems intent on raising the retirement age to 65.

"The government's work-until-you-drop plan will mean recruitment and retention levels will collapse, the work demands placed on nurses will rocket and patient care will suffer."

But the CBI, the employers' organisation, urged the unions to join the "real world" on pensions. Sir Digby Jones, the director-general, said: "With people living longer and public finances under increasing pressure, taxpayers are not prepared to foot an open-ended bill.

"If public sector pensions are to be affordable there can be no sacred cows, including the current retirement age of 60."

Public sector protest

THE leaders of 13 unions representing more than three million workers in the public sector plan a joint campaign against an increase in the pension age from 60 to 65.

Alan Johnson, the Trade and Industry Secretary, expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached with the workers, but made it clear that the government was pressing ahead with its aim of changing the "retirement at 60 ethos".

This was not received well by the unions.

The employers' body, the CBI, attacked the unions and urged them to join the "real world" on pensions.