Gold-plated public sector pensions are a 'myth', say union members

Public sector workers will defend their pensions today against the "myths" that they are gold-plated, as they continue with plans for a wave of strikes.

The annual conference of Unison will debate the Government's planned pension reforms, which have led to warnings of the biggest outbreak of industrial action since the 1926 General Strike.

General secretary Dave Prentis told the conference in Manchester yesterday that millions of public sector workers are preparing for the fight of their lives to defend their jobs, pensions and services, raising the prospect of "sustained" strikes.

He spoke of a campaign of industrial action "without precedent", involving more than a million workers, which he predicted will weaken the Government.

Delegates will today attack planned changes to pensions, including the switch from uprating them from RPI to CPI inflation, which Unison says has reduced the value of benefits for public sector workers by around 15%.

Speakers are expected to warn that without public service pensions, many more retired workers will have to rely on means-tested benefits.
A motion condemning attacks from politicians on pensions is expected to receive unanimous support from the 2,000 delegates.

The conference will also oppose recommendations of a report by former Labour minister Lord Hutton, which include ending final salary schemes in the public sector.

"Hutton wants us to pay more, work longer and receive less in pension benefits," the motion reads, adding that any industrial action should be aimed at achieving maximum unity across the public sector.