Campaign continues to defeat pensions cuts

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PCS Comment

5 July 2012

The joint union campaign against the government's unfair and unnecessary cuts to public sector pensions continues despite plans to force through legislation.

PCS remains committed to working with other unions and politicians to oppose the plans to force us to pay more and work longer for less in retirement.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has confirmed that the government will introduce a bill in parliament in this session – though he did not state when – to try to enact the cuts they have consistently refused to negotiate on.

Mr Alexander implied that the government had reached agreements with public sector unions.

But the fact is that the vast majority of union members in the civil service, health and education sectors have rejected the proposals. Unions in local government are balloting their members on a 'final' offer.

Our national executive agreed last month that the next phase of our campaign, which also includes opposition to cuts to jobs and pay, will include building for co-ordinated industrial action with other unions in the autumn.

We will also shortly be launching a political campaign to lobby MPs and try to defeat the bill in parliament.

Group-wide industrial action against cuts to jobs and offices, and the threat of privatisation has been held recently in the Department for Transport and HM Revenue and Customs, with more groups expected to announce plans shortly.

We are also continuing to work with other unions and campaign groups on our '68 is too late' campaign against the increase in the state pension age.

Any joint national strike in the autumn could capitalise on the publicity surrounding the TUC demonstration on 20 October, and plans are already underway to make the day at least as big as last year's March for the Alternative.

Public and Commercial Services Union