UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Sunday 19 June 2011

Our pensions are not safe in Con Dem hands

The Observer reports that the Treasury is "backtracking" on the pensions announcements made on Friday by the lightweight Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jun/18/pensions-reform-unions-public-sector-treasury

The chaos in Con Dem ranks would be funny if it wasn't so serious. The future pension entitlements of 12 million public service workers are in the hands of a group of economically illiterate and undemocratic political charlatans.

The question of the future viability of public sector pension schemes was settled in 2005. There's no justification whatsover for the increased contributions being demanded of our members beyond those agreed under cost sharing provisions at scheme level in recent years.

Why should public sector workers be subject to a deficit tax at a time when Corporation Tax has been reduced and the bankers responsible for the crisis are getting away scot-free with over £8 billion bonuses being paid to them this year?