What does the Pensions White Paper mean for you? A discussion with speakers:

The Railway Pension Scheme is under threat.

Rail employers want to massively increase the contributions rail workers pay into your pension scheme and cut benefits.

Come and show your support to Hackney's local government workers striking against attacks on their pension rights. Speakers will include local officers and stewards from all three Council trade unions, plus others offering support from across the labour movement.

From the Joint Union Strike Team (JUST)

MASSIVE STRIKE DAY LOOMING OVER CUTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONS

Over one million of the country's most essential public sector workers will go on strike on 28 March to protest at unfair and unjust cuts to local government pensions, the Joint Union Strike Team (JUST) announced today. The strike is planned because the Government refuses to give protection for existing members of their pension scheme.

Assemble 11am, Holborn Tube.
March to Trafalgar Square for rally at 1pm.

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.

Press release from the TUC

Unions announce public sector pensions campaign date



A meeting today (Tuesday 11 January) of the TUC's Public Service Liaison Group (PSLG) has chosen Friday 18 February as a nationwide day of campaigning for union members to voice their concerns at the detrimental changes the Government is planning to make to the pensions of all public sector workers.

Last week, the government announced its proposed changes to civil service pensions. The retirement age will rise from 60 to 65, and the 'final salary' pension will be replaced by a new 'whole career average' pension.

In other words, civil service staff will have to work longer to get less. They are left with uncertainty about how they will get by in retirement, after a longer and more exhausting working life.

Click the links below to see articles on the websites of the teaching unions, PCS, FBU, UNISON and the TUC.

• National Union of Teachers (NUT)

• Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS)
• National Association of Teachers in Further & Higher Education (NATFHE)
• Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
• The public sector union, UNISON
• TUC Response to Pensions Commission interim report

Thousands of trade unionists marched to defend pension rights in June 2004. The march was organised by the TUC.