Pension Strike Tuesday March 28th - Join Us
22 Mar 2006
From October 2006, if the government has its way, anyone under 53 faces having to work on to 65 before getting a full pension, no matter how long you have worked and paid into the Local Government Pension scheme. This means that some UNISON members will get treated unfairly.
This is particularly unfair as the government has already protected the pensions of all civil servants, NHS staff, teachers, firefighers, police and the armed forces. However, other staff in schools, universities and libraries as well as staff in local Councils, bus/train drivers, and services such as the Housing Executive and Probation will be unfairly treated. In a recent ballot of UNISON members affected 80% who voted said YES to strike action to oppose this move by government to shortchange low paid workers in particular.
In addition to strike action UNISON is actively encouraging members to join the pension scheme. UNISON activist Lilian Russell explains “It is generally understood that in compensation for low pay, public sector workers will be able to retire with some dignity due to our pension scheme. Public sector workers provide an often thankless task of educating our children, cleaning our schools, providing meals for children, etc. All public sector workers should take up the offer to be part of the pensions scheme as it gives some level of comfort after a life of hard work. The government’s current proposals are disgraceful.”
UNISON is asking members to operate picket lines and attend one of the regional rallies being organised in co-operation with six other unions.
- Belfast - City Hall at 11.30am with a march to Transport House in High St & Stormont, Main Gate, Upper Newtownards Road 11am
- Ballymena - Broadway Bandstand at 12.45pm
- Derry - Guild Hall at 1pm
- Armagh - Southern Education & Library Board HQ, The Mall at 1pm
- Enniskillen - Main Street at 1pm
- Omagh - Court House -at 1pm
- Newry - Council Offices at 1pm
For more information on UNISON’s Pension campaign click here
To join UNISON click here
To join your Local Government Pension Scheme contact your salaries and wages department
To find out more about the Local Government Pension Scheme click here
