Why government cannot be trusted over public pensions
11:34am Tuesday 15th November 2011 in Comment
ARE there no depths to which this government will not sink?
I woke up last week to the outrageous news that they have suggested that a 15 minute token walkout would be reasonable whilst talks over pensions are ongoing.
The whole reason for balloting for strike action was that the government has pig headedly refused to talk. Their idea of negotiation is to say: “This is what we’re doing, like it or lump it.”
That is exactly the attitude they are demonstrating again now: “Only strike for 15 minutes or we will make the harshest antiworker legislation in Europe even harsher.”
They say that no employer will dock worker’s wages for only striking for 15 minutes. Well, I remember them guaranteeing that low paid local government workers such as myself would get a pay rise this year of £250.
This would have been far below inflation, but at least a token of goodwill. Despite the government’s “guarantee”, I did not get this paltry rise and nor did anyone I know.
This betrayal is just one of many that has pushed me and all my colleagues absolutely to the limit, financially.
None of us can afford to lose a day’s pay for going on strike, but we can afford even less to lose the many thousands of pounds that we will lose over the years if we don't stand up for ourselves now!
The government are demanding we pay vastly increased pension contributions, but they are not going to allow that increase to go into our pension funds. Instead it will go directly to the Treasury.
When I was at school that was the very definition of a tax.
The government want to tax our pension contributions and they are not in the least bit willing to negotiate on the matter.
I am fully aware that there are a great many private sector workers who are suffering financially, just as much as my colleagues and me.
I would urge you all not to allow this shameless ploy to divide us succeed.
Instead, look to the workers at Park Cakes. They are going to strike for four days to protect their pay and conditions and I wish them every success. Public sector or private, we are all workers and, if we don’t stand up for ourselves, then who will?
Dave Milne Brookfield Street Bolton
