Delegates: 'Go out like Wisconsin'

Louise Nousratpour in Eastbourne
Thursday March 10, 2011
The Morning Star

Women trade unionists vowed today to go out "Wisconsin style" in defence of public-sector pensions after Lord Hutton spelled out government plans to raid them.

As the major unions were considering co-ordinated strike action, speakers at TUC women's conference declared themselves ready to fight plans to make teachers, nurses, firefighters and local government workers pay more and work longer for a smaller pension.

Most public-sector workers are women and they already face smaller pensions and unequal pay.

The Usdaw union reported that nearly a million women would have their state pension delayed by more than a year because of the rise in the retirement age, costing them between £5,000 and £9,700.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy delegate Kate Moran said: "Two-thirds of pensioners living in poverty are women and Lord Hutton's proposals will mean some women losing up to £15,000 of their income."

Conference heard that, far from being "gold plated," average local government and NHS pensions were just £4,000 a year - falling to £2,600 for women.

UCU speaker Jennifer Dods reported that her union was fighting back against the attacks on pension with a series of rolling strikes, starting next week in Scotland and Wales, followed by strikes in Northern Ireland and England the following week.

She also urged support for the union's day of action on March 24.

And the NUT's Sally Kincaid called on Britain's trade union movement to "take a leaf" out of the struggles in Wisconsin and Egypt.

"We all agree that we should be on the TUC March 26 demonstration but we must also organise for March 27 and beyond.

"Call it general strike, call it co-ordinated action, but let us do something to show the government that we in the public and private sector will take no more.

"Let us go out Egyptian style, Wisconsin style," she said to cheers.

Addressing a fringe meeting on Wednesday night, NUT general secretary Christine Blower described the increase in pension contributions and the switch from the RPI inflation index to CPI is "straightforward theft."

PCS national officer Chris Cuthbert added: "Co-ordinated action is now a matter of priority. If we don't stand together, we will be defeated."