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Around fifty trade unionists gathered on the steps of Hackney Town Hall at lunchtime on Friday 18th February to protest in defence of pension rights. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) had designated this as a national Day of Action on pensions.
Delegations from various public sector unions took part in Hackney's protest, including UNISON, Amicus, TGWU, PCS and RMT. Several speakers addressed the rally, including: Nigel Prendergast (PCS), Brian Debus (UNISON), Gill George (Amicus), and Steve Edwards (TGWU). They emphasised several key points:
- That public sector workers had chosen to work in public service, and that a decent, secure pension had long been considered one of the benefits of making this choice;
- That pensions are deferred wages - they are not a gift from a benevolent employer, but part of our wages that we have put aside to provide for our retirement;
- The current attacks on pension rights have brought public sector unions together, and we should continue to build on this unity;
- The forthcoming strike action over pensions is crucial, and should be supported across the public sector;
- The strikes and the wider campaign should make pensions a key issue in the coming General Election.
Hackney TUC President Janine Booth commented: "The government is trying to make public servants work until they drop. And workers in the private sector either face similar attacks, or have weaker pension rights to start with. This is a cross-union issue, and we are seeing trade unions start to unite. Hackney TUC is the ideal forum for union branches and reps across the borough to come together to defend their members' right to comfort and dignity in retirement."
Hackney TUC is planning a public meeting in the run-up to the strikes in late March. Watch this website for details.
Click here [0] for photos of the protest.