It’s a critical week for the fight to stop Tory attacks on public sector pensions. Trade union leaders and rank and file workers are meeting to discuss the government’s latest deal and the way forward.
The proposed deal would force workers to work longer, pay more into their pensions and get less when they retire.
Everyone knows that if the Tories win this battle it will be a green light for even more austerity measures. Already the government is threatening to impose regional pay for public sector workers as an excuse to cut wages.
But the Tories are worried about more strikes and are desperate to settle the dispute. Unfortunately some union leaders seem to feel the same.
The magnificent strike on 30 November showed that millions of workers are up for a fight. They have had a taste of their power and know they have the potential to win.
The PCS, NUT, NASUWT, UCU, Unite (health and local government) and UCAC unions have refused to sign up to the deal. These unions should urgently put a call out for a new strike.
Workers experienced real solidarity on N30. If teachers, lecturers and civil service workers struck, many members of other unions would not cross picket lines. This could increase the pressure to escalate the action.
Every trade unionist should be calling on their union’s leadership to name the day for the next strike. This is a fight we can win.
A staffing crisis in the NHS
Health workers set to strike across four Manchester hospitals
Bus workers rejected an offer and came back out
