New union pensions offer in bid to avoid strikes
Union leaders are meeting government ministers for talks to avoid the biggest public sector strike in decades.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander will meet officials including TUC leader Brendan Barber as unions press ahead with plans for a walkout by millions of workers on November 30.
Chancellor George Osborne told the Commons on Tuesday that public sector workers will be offered a “fair” deal, receiving a “much more generous” arrangement in retirement than many working for private firms.
There was speculation that the government will offer some marginal concessions during the meeting. But union officials are not expecting any change to the main issues of contention – public sector staff being told to pay higher pension contributions and work longer for less retirement income.
The public sector group of unions will meet later today to discuss the outcome of the latest talks and are likely to want to test how any proposals would affect each of the different public sector schemes in areas including the NHS, civil service and education.
A TUC spokesman said: “There is a meeting in which we expect the Government to indicate whether they are prepared to move on their position.
“But we will need to listen to what they have to say rather than comment on advance spin, which can only get in the way of proper negotiation.”