Pensions: On-going action for all

You will have seen on the news that some unions have signed an agreement with the government on pensions. This has been presented as a final agreement, a done deal, but it is not. Campaigners from three south London boroughs met on Tuesday and agreed to circulate this advice to trade unionists.  Please consider what you can do. We also welcome your feedback on these action points.

Deal or No deal?

Most unions have not signed up to any agreement in the public service sectors although Unison and GMB have both signed "heads of agreement" in local government and health. Although it is not a final agreement it does mean any final deal will mean workers in those two sectors

·       will work longer

·       pay more

·       receive less in pensions

The only concession from the government is that some workers will not have to pay more towards their pensions for two years. After that pension contributions will increase. The agreement also mean those unions have agreed not to call any more strikes while they are negotiating.

Even if there are further negotiations this agreement will leave us with a terrible deal on pensions.

Members of Unison and GMB should tell their national union leaders that the agreement is no good and they should tell the government – No deal!

Most unions have not signed up to any agreement in the other public service sectors. The PCS and most of the civil service unions have rejected the agreement. So far the NUT, NAS/UWT and UCU have said they will not sign the agreement on the Teacher’s Pension Scheme.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

If you a member of NUT, NAS/UWT and UCU:

Members of these unions should call on their leaders to call more strike action as soon as possible. If your union is still in dispute get your union branch to send in resolutions calling for more action now.

We should make it clear – there is no deal and we continue to fight against the government’s attack on our pensions.

If you a member of UNISON or the GMB:

Send individual messages and motions from branches/branch officers telling the union leaders to call off the agreement with the government. Please sign the petitions against the agreement (see links below) and support the lobbies of the Unison and GMB national executives.  Here are the details for the Unison lobby this coming Tuesday:

Lobby of the Unison Service Group Executives

Tuesday 10 January

12 noon until 2.00pm

Unison national HQ, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1

Called by Camden, Lambeth and London Met University Unison branches

For all trade unionists:

Lobby the TUC

Thursday 12 January, 2pm

Congress House, Great Russell Street

London WC1B 3LS

(Nearest underground station Tottenham Court Road)

Sign the petitions

For Unison members: Why we say ‘no deal’ on pensions

For all unions:  Don't give up the pensions fight

Unite the Resistance emergency national meeting

Saturday 14 January, 12 noon - 4pm

Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London.

Go to http://uniteresist.org/