Pensions pressure builds as union leaders meet with Prescott
Kate B | 12.02.2005 12:46 | Social Struggles | London
Union leaders are meeting with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to talk about union members' refusal to accept government plans to downgrade public sector pensions schemes. The government is under huge pressure from union members to abandon proposals to cut the pensions schemes.
After a nationwide 82% Yes vote for strike action to save pensions in January's informal pensions consultation, UNISON is due to start formally balloting members on strike action next week.
On April 1 2005, the government plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 and the early retirement age from 50 to 55. Union members are furious about this and have turned out in their thousands to respond to informal ballots on strike action. More than a million public-sector workers could take strike action in March to protest against those changes.
Still, news reports indicate that John Prescott's office believes that changing the local government pensions scheme is still an option, and maybe the better one in the longer term.
This is not good enough, and Mr Prescott needs to know it. Union members want the proposed changes to their pensions scheme dropped - not merely watered down or postponed until after the election!
The pressure on government has come about because so many union members have responded so angrily to the government's proposals for pensions schemes. We're seeing the effectiveness of a collective response here.
On April 1 2005, the government plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 and the early retirement age from 50 to 55. Union members are furious about this and have turned out in their thousands to respond to informal ballots on strike action. More than a million public-sector workers could take strike action in March to protest against those changes.
Still, news reports indicate that John Prescott's office believes that changing the local government pensions scheme is still an option, and maybe the better one in the longer term.
This is not good enough, and Mr Prescott needs to know it. Union members want the proposed changes to their pensions scheme dropped - not merely watered down or postponed until after the election!
The pressure on government has come about because so many union members have responded so angrily to the government's proposals for pensions schemes. We're seeing the effectiveness of a collective response here.
Kate B
e-mail:
info@uul.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.uul.org.uk
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union pensions
12.02.2005 13:21
+ Educational Organisations and share holdings in the arms trade:
Birmingham University Pension Fund
BAe Systems
Rolls Royce
GKN
Smiths Group
Dundee University Pension Fund
BAe Systems
GKN
Smiths Group
Edinburgh University Pension Fund
Rolls Royce
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Smiths Group
Glasgow University Endowment Fund
BAe Systems
Rolls Royce
VT Group
Greig Educational Trustees Inc.
BAe Systems
Guildhall School of Music and Drama Trust Ltd.
BAe Systems
Hertfordshire University - Higher Education Corporation
BAe Systems
Imperial College of Science, London University
BAe Systems
Cobham
Smiths Group
Lancaster University
BAe Systems
Smiths Group
Leeds University Pension Fund
Smiths Group
Liverpool University - Endowment Funds
BAe Systems
Smiths Group
VT Group
London University Superannuation Arrangements (SAUL)
Rolls Royce
Manchester Metropolitan University
BAe Systems
Smiths Group
GKN
Manchester University Superannuation Scheme
Rolls Royce
Smiths Group
Mid-career College Ltd.
Rolls Royce
New Hall College, Cambridge
Rolls Royce
North West Training Council
BAe Systems
Nottingham University
Rolls Royce
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Cobham
Somerville College, Oxford
Rolls Royce
Southampton University
BAe Systems
St. Hilda's College, Oxford
BAe Systems
Smiths Group
GKN
St. John the Evangelist College, Cambridge
Rolls Royce
GKN
Smiths Group
Surrey University
Rolls Royce
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Smiths Group
Universities' Superannuation Scheme
BAe Systems
Rolls Royce
Cobham
VT Group
GKN
Alvis
Smiths Group
University College, London University
Cobham
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These are the seven leading arms-trade companies based in the UK:
ALVIS, Military sales: $362m*
Perhaps most notorious for its long-standing relationship with the Indonesian military, having supplied it with a number of vehicles including Stormer armoured vehicles and Scorpion light tanks.
BAE SYSTEMS, Military sales: $15bn
BAE Systems sells weapons across the world. It has received an angry reaction to the use of its Hawks in Aceh (in Northern Indonesia), to the sale of head-up displays for US-built F16s destined for Israel, and to the marketing of arms to India in the midst of conflict over Kashmir.
COBHAM, Military sales: $582m
Cobham produces a wide range of military equipment including missile components, weapons carriage and release systems, communication systems, radar and electronic warfare products.
GKN, Military sales: $2.1bn
Through AgustaWestland, GKN has produced and delivered over 7,000 helicopters to more than 80 countries. 400 Lynx helicopters have been sold to the armed forces of 11 countries, with the latest Lynx variant, the Super Lynx 300, having been purchased by Oman, Thailand and South Africa.
ROLLS-ROYCE, Military sales: $2.2bn
Rolls-Royce is the world's second largest military aero engine manufacturer. Rolls-Royce anticipate steady growth in the military market, not least because of 'increasing regional tensions in many parts of the world'
SMITHS GROUP, Military sales: $1.1bn
Smiths has a wide range of activities, including a large aerospace business which is becoming increasingly military in nature. Missile trigger systems made by Smiths Group were used in US-made Apache attack helicopters supplied to Israel.
VT GROUP, Military sales: $709m
VT believes that the UK's involvement in the Iraq conflict has boosted its chances of receiving new contracts in the Middle East. As a result of the poor order book of the 1990s, the then Vosper Thornycroft acquired companies to bolster its support services portfolio, including military training, and these now account for the bulk of VT sales.
(* sales figures are for 2002)
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the stakes
12.02.2005 15:44
crusaders on the run. vote labour, vote for war and death. oh, and low interest rates.
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