30/06/2011

Pensions Strike Kicks Off

Union members are taking industrial action today.

NUT members are walking out today alongside colleagues in the ATL, lecturers in the UCU and civil servants in the PCS.

The strike will also affect Border Agency staff in the UK.

People travelling into the UK today may experience delays at border control. The impact of the strike will be different at individual ports, airports and international rail terminals. Contingency plans have been put in place and Border Agency staff will keep delays to a minimum.

The strike is a result of the public sector retirement age coming in line with state pension age.

The move means the public sector pensions age will rise to 66.

Even though Ministers say the plans are "fair and affordable", the decision has been criticised by unions, who described on-going talks as "inflammatory".

The Treasury Minister has said that contributions must go up, but that rises will be capped for the low paid with existing benefits protected.

Strike members say the action is very much a last resort and that they “sincerely regret the disruption to parents and carers”.

A spokesperson added: “Our action became unavoidable when Ministers failed to take the opportunity of Monday’s talks to see sense and enter into serious negotiations with us. We are grateful for the many messages of support we have received.”

(BMcN/GK)


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