Sheffield Trades Union CouncilEstablished 1858
16th March, 2006. Circular 2006-09 Dear Colleagues, THE SHEFFIELD TRADES UNION COUNCIL URGES ALL WORKERS TO GIVE SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE NATIONAL STRIKE FOR PENSIONS JUSTICE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS ON 28TH MARCH, 2006.On 28th March over one million of the Country`s most essential local government workers will go on strike in defence of their pensions. They are members of twelve Public Sector trade unions and have massively voted in separate ballots to take strike action. Although other Public Sector workers have been guaranteed protection for existing members, the Government and employers are threatening to attack the Local Government Pensions Scheme with no proper protection. By refusing to pay out on the Local Government Pensions Scheme the Government is destroying the retirement plans of tens of thousands of Public Sector workers. This unfairness means that Member of the Local Government Pensions Scheme under attack are working alongside other Public Sector staff who have been guaranteed protection. Joint trade union action is aimed at heading off Government and employer plans to reduce pension benefits for more than one million active member of the Local Government Pensions Scheme. Some 73% of Local Government Pension Scheme members are women, with more that 60% working part-time. The average women`s Local Government Pension Scheme pension is £31 a week and 75% of all Local Government Pension Scheme pensions are less than £96 a week. TRADE UNION BRANCHES AND TRADE UNION MEMBERS ARE URGED TO GIVE SUPPORT TO OUR COLLEAGUES BY FORWARDING LETTERS TO THEIR M.Ps.; BY JOINING THE PICKETS ON 28TH MARCH, 2006; AND BY TAKING OTHER APPROPRIATE SOLIDARITY ACTION. Yours fraternally, Bill Ronksley, Please copy & circulate. |