Reject and Fight - The pension campaign goes on

A rank and file conference at the weekend that had been called to discuss the pensions dispute was attended by about 450; a magnificent turnout given that the organisers expected about 200. There were activists from all the major unions who took action on N30.

The conference was held against the background of a number of unions, not just PCS, having rejected what was on offer and the conference heard speakers from PCS (including Mark Serwotka), NUT (including Kevin Courtney who spoke in Leicester on N30), Unite and UCU. There were also speakers from unions, such as Unison, who have not yet endorsed the decision of their leadership to accept the government's proposals and call off their involvement in the dispute. These Unison members believed that as the major concerns of the dispute had not been met (i.e. having to work longer, pay more and receive less,), the proposal should be rejected. Unison executive's meet on 10 January to endorse or reject the decision of their leadership. The TUC General Council meet on 12 January to review the overall situation.

The conference agreed:

- The government's proposals should be rejected

- PCS would propose at the General Council the next date(s) for co-ordinated action

- If the TUC were not able to sustain co-ordinated action because some unions had formally accepted the proposals, PCS would seek meetings with the other unions who had rejected to plan a joint programme of further action.

It is important that you regularly refer to this blog and our Facebook group @ PCS DWP Leicestershire General Branch (but not from an official PC)to keep yourself up to date with developments.