More coordinated strike action planned over pension negotiations ‘charade’

PCS union leader Mark Serwotka gives warning after executive rules to stage second mass walkout Unions are preparing for a second mass walkout over public sector pension reforms, a union leader has warned. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union – which took part in coordinated strike action on 30 June alongside three education unions – laid out the prospect of further mass industrial unrest after the PCS executive ruled to take fresh strike action to force the government to “compromise” over the proposed reforms to pension schemes. Serwotka said he expected other unions to join a day of coordinated action “significantly” bigger than that in June, over pension negotiations which he described as nothing short of a “charade”. More than 10 unions could be involved in strikes in November, with industrial action continuing into 2012 if the dispute is not resolved, said Serwotka. The leader of the unaffiliated union said more targeted action on specific services was also likely, and warned of the possibility of a big impact if PCS members who issue passports and driving licences went on strike. Asked about the level of support across public sector unions for a national walkout, Serwotka said the magnitude of the one-day strike would become clear when the unions debate public sector pensions at the TUC congress in London next week. “We are moving towards a strike potentially involving millions,” he said. A number of other unions are threatening industrial action, including those representing firefighters, teachers and other civil servants. A meeting of union leaders will be held after the TUC congress to finalise details for a coordinated day of action. Serwotka said he expected the day of action to take place in mid to late November. Speaking ahead of a meeting on Thursday afternoon between union leaders and Francis Maude, the cabinet minister, and Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, he described talks to date as “a farce with bells on”. “We are supposed to be in negotiations but to negotiate you should be prepared to compromise,” Serwotka told a press conference. “On plans to make people work longer, pay more and receive less they have not moved one jot.” He threw down the gauntlet to the government. “The government now has a choice. Either it can put its head in the sand and just sit back and do nothing while we are seeing bigger and bigger amounts of the public sector going on strike, or it can get down and negotiate. We’ve been clear all along in negotiations you have to compromise. We are prepared to do that, but they have not budged a single inch.” The cabinet office said was it committed to “genuine and meaningful dialogue” to achieve necessary reforms. “The government is committed to ongoing talks with the unions,” a spokesman said. “It is committed to keeping public service pensions among the best available but also recognises the need to address rising costs due to increased longevity. It is very disappointing that there has been another call for industrial action while these talks are ongoing. We hope the unions will recognise that rational discussion and open dialogue are more appropriate methods of reaching a solution that works to the benefit of all, rather than engaging in industrial action.” Serwotka said any actions will see unions gather around a mantra of “fair pensions for all”, in a nod to efforts to divide those working in the public and private sector over pension provision. He said the government’s attempt to “try to divide” by claiming that public sector workers had more generous pension schemes had only served to expose the “appalling level” of provision in the private sector. “The idea that in anyway the way forward is to put everybody at a lower level is completely wrong,” he said. “And therefore the petition we are working on with the unions is very clear: it’s about fair pensions for all, public and private.” And he insisted that any action taken by unions would register with wider public anger at government cuts. “The reason I think we got so much support on the 30th is that a lot of people recognised the arguments we made about pensions, but probably more than that, it’s because people welcome somebody is fighting back and standing up for what is going on. And in that sense, it’s fairly clear that this is about much more than pensions, because if we all lose our pensions, it follows the government will be even more emboldened to carry on with its austerity plan.” A lobby of parliament by seven education unions – including three who took action in June – over proposed reforms to the teachers’ pension scheme is due to take place on 26 October. Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said it would be the government’s “last chance” to “think again”. “Negotiations have so far made no progress,” she said. “There has still been no valuation of the teachers’ pension scheme, and the switch from RPI to CPI is already causing members to lose money. The lobby of parliament on 26 October by seven teachers’ unions is the last chance for the government to think again. If they do not do so further industrial action will be inevitable”. Trade unions Public sector pensions Public services policy Mark Serwotka Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 8, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.