Strikes – we know we can count on Labour for support

On top of frozen pay as inflation rises, and heavy job cuts as pressure grows, public sector workers now face an attack on their pensions. UNISON members providing vital public services care, educate and support – they make our communities better places to live. Just as they have cared for you, now they need you to care for them.

Today I will call on conference to support UNISON’s fight for a decent pensions’ deal for all workers – public and private sector. Our fight is fair. Plans to make public sector workers pay more, work longer and get less when they retire have nothing to do with affordability or sustainability. Every penny raised by this stealth tax, will go towards paying down the bankers’ deficit – this is just another way to make public sector workers pay for the financial crisis.

Reforms brought in after negotiations with the Labour government, just four years ago, mean the cost of pensions, as a proportion of GDP, will fall, and employees’ pick up the cost of living longer. Billions more has been cut from pensioners’ purses by the government’s switch from using RPI to CPI to calculate increases. Both the local government and health schemes have cash surpluses. A so-called public sector pension crisis is being whipped up, to create a climate where it is ok to attack rights even more.

Escaping scrutiny is the real pensions’ crisis. Two thirds of private sector workers do not get a single penny from their employer towards their pension – our campaign will give these workers a voice. The private sector bosses who shirk their responsibilities to their staff will cost our country billions in means tested benefits – but a race to the bottom on pensions will cost even more.

To those who say that we shouldn’t strike – they should know that public service workers do not take strike action lightly – but enough is enough. In the conference hall today, I know there will be many public sector workers – there is probably one in your family, or one could be living next door to you. You’ll know they care about the services they provide, and all they want is the pension deal, they signed up for, to stand.

There is still time to reach a deal – but we will be ready to act if government ministers’ continue to refuse to negotiate seriously. UNISON is balloting our 1.1 million of our members who are affected by the proposed cuts, for action on pensions – the biggest ballot in UK history.

Our first day of action is scheduled for 30 November- and we know we can count on Labour for support. We will be organising local and national protests, leafleting the public and taking every opportunity get our message across. Join us – www.unison.org.uk/pensions