Big unions may strike on eve of election
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ONE OF Labour's biggest backers has defied a personal plea from the party leadership and pressed ahead with a union ballot on industrial action which could result in up to a million council workers walking out just before a general election.
Ian McCartney, Labour's chairman, has written to the unions urging them to drop plans for stoppages over pensions in "the next few crucial months". But yesterday the Transport & General (T&G) decided to hold a strike vote on changes to the pension scheme.
Members of Unison, Britain's biggest union and an even larger donor to the party, are also being balloted on industrial action.
Peter Allenson, national officer of the T&G, said: "The Government is intent on making hard-pressed council workers work longer for less. We reject a `work till you drop' culture and the Government should be setting an example in pension provision rather than pushing through cuts to benefits."
"The Unison and T&G ballots will both close on 9 March and the date of the first strike has been provisionally set for 23 March. The Government is expected to call a general election for 5 May.
The unions are protesting at the removal of the right of employees with long service to retire at 60 with a full pension. And under new rules, early retirement packages would only be available from 50 rather than 55. Local government employers say they have no control over the statutory pension scheme, which has been changed by an Act of Parliament.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments