Millions still face pensions robbery Serwotka tells BBC

Millions still face pensions robbery Serwotka tells BBC

5 January 2012

In an extended BBC interview, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka says millions of public servants still face the prospect of paying more and working longer for a worse pension.

Interviewed for the corporation’s HARDtalk programme, Mark outlined why the union has rejected the latest offer, pointing out Treasury minister Danny Alexander told parliament the government had met all its objectives and was offering no new money.

He told journalist Stephen Sackur that “millions went on strike because they were being forced to pay more, work longer and get less”, adding that everyone still faces that.
The 25-minute interview has been broadcast over the last two days on the BBC’s 24-hour News Channel and BBC World, and is available on the iPlayer website.
The union’s national executive meets next week to discuss the latest in the pensions dispute that brought two million public servants out on strike on 30 November, following our strike with teachers and lecturers in June.

On the programme Mark posed the question: “If it was right to go on strike against something six weeks ago, why is it not right to carry on opposing what the government is doing?”
Asked whether 2012 will be a year of industrial unrest, he said: “That will depend on whether the government carries on making working people, and those with the least, pay the biggest price to solve a problem that we didn’t cause.”

Update: Just after five minutes in to the interview, Mr Sackur suggests PCS is alone in rejecting the government's offer. But this afternoon reps from Unite - which represents 100,000 NHS staff - have unanimously rejected the proposals.