U.K.
Nine unions which organise local government staff are balloting their members over possible strike action in protest at the government's decision to press ahead with cuts in the local government pension scheme. While the government stepped back from major cuts to other public sector schemes it has not changed its mind on ending the “85-rule” in local government. This allows workers whose age and length of service add up to 85 to retire on a full pension.
Read more at >UNISON
PCS, the main civil service union, will start the new year with a ballot of its members for industrial action in response to government plans for budget cuts across all government departments and public bodies. The union says that between 2008 and 2011 the government plans annual cuts of 8%. Read more at > PCS (EN)
Firefighters in England and Wales took four hours of strike action in protest at proposed changes to their pension and retirement arrangements that would lead to active firefighters seeing their retirement age increase from 55 to 60. Meanwhile the government in Scotland has been more open to negotiation and the FBU firefighters' union there balloting its members over the latest proposals from the employers. These include provisions to protect firefighters whose fitness declines with age from losing both their job and their pension entitlement and enhanced ‘transitional protection arrangements’
Public service union PASYDY, will take strike action on 19 September in protest at statements from the Minister of Finance about the possibility of further cuts in pay and pensions. The union argues that public sector workers have already seen their pay and pensions cut and that the government should direct its attention at those who caused the crisis. In the meantime the SEK trade union has decided not to take part in the strike following a meeting with the Ministry of Finance where the union was told there were no plans to cut the pay of hourly-paid workers and that any changes would be
