30th Nov Strike Demo
The government’s “final offer” is no improvement. There is no extra money on offer. The government still wants public sector workers to work longer, pay more and get less. They haven’t moved on core issues:
* Fifty percent rise in pension contributions.
* Normal pension age to rise to the state retirement age. Retirement at 68 for those 34 and under.
* Pensions indexed at CPI instead of RPI. A cut for all existing pensioners.
We agree with those union general secretaries who are against accepting this offer. We ask all union general secretaries, if it was right to strike against these proposals on November 30th how it can be right to accept them now? Ordinary trade union members have demonstrated their determination to resist these unfair and unnecessary changes; we call on our trade union leaders reject the Government’s bullying tactics and reject their unacceptable offer.
Sign the statement here
View the signatories here
There is also a petition to sign here calling for a strike day in January
You should also talk to you union rep, branch chair/secretary, regional chair/secretary and write to the executives of your union to make sure they know that we do not want to accept the ConDems paltry offer, that all public sector unions stand together for a fair deal on pensions for everyone, and that we will not back down.
The pensions are being cut to pay for the deficit that the bankers caused. The Hutton report found that public sector pensions are sustainable, and many unions report that their pension schemes are in surplus.
We should not accept any cuts to pensions, because cuts to pensions are not necessary, and will hurt people in their retirement.
We will not work longer, pay more and get less to pay for the banks mistakes.
There are alternatives to the cuts, and to austerity and neo-liberal economics. Join us in 2012 to campaign for the alternative, for economic justice and for a fair pension for everyone.
Keep up the good work.