Local Government employers want to make immediate changes that will increase the retirment age to 65 and increase employee contributions by 1%.  They have offered no protection for existing scheme members.  These proposals are worse than those that UNISON members were prepared to strike over in March 2005.  Healthcare workers, teachers and civil servants had their existing pensions protected in a deal agreed with the Government on 18th October 2005.

Greg Grant, UNISON Eastern Regional Secretary said,  "The talks today between the unions, Government and local government employers have reached a crucial stage.  The employer's proposals are unacceptable to our members.

"All we asking is to local government pension scheme members, refuse collectors, social workers, probation workers, school meal providers, teaching assistants, police staff, higher education and further education staff, to be treated the same as the other public services.  Why should one set of employees be treated differently?

Ann Vinden Eastern Region Head of Local Government and Education said

"Our memebers just want fairness.  These workers have paid into a pension schemeall through their working lives and have now been told the goal posts are being moved.  All because soem local authoriites made bad investment decisions.