Unite says changes cost workers thousands in retirement money
Post office staff will strike on a peak day for Christmas cards and presents over changes to their pensions that could cost them 30 per cent of their retirement money, or thousands of pounds each year.
The 24-hour strike on Saturday, December 3, will see 720 post office managers walk out of 300 crown offices on one of the busiest days for letters and packages coming in and out of the country.
Organised by Unite, Britain’s biggest union, and the Communication Workers Union, the strike follows earlier walkouts on September 15 and October 31, and was voted for by 64 per cent on Unite members.
Unite said closure of the defined salary pension scheme from March 2017 affects around 3,500 workers who will lose an estimated 30 per cent of retirement income.
Brian Scott, Unite officer for the Post Office, said in a letter to managers:
“We are taking this action because the management refuses to talk in a constructive manner about the pension scheme which is currently in surplus to more than £143 million.
This is the retirement income of our members which is at stake and we are not going to stand idly by and let them lose thousands of pounds when they retire.”
He also called for business minister Margot James to investigate ‘managerial incompetence’ at the post office, and backed the CWA’s call for letting people access banking services at their post office:
“This would provide for banking facilities for citizens, communities and businesses of all sizes which would be trusted and accessible on the high street.
Furthermore, it would secure the Post Office as a viable and sustainable proposition as it has done in other countries across the world.”
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One Response to “Post Office managers to strike over pensions on busy Christmas post day”
Anon
The CWU recommended that the UK stay in the EU.
It was because of the EU’s market rules that our Post Office was broken up and the UK government forbidden to subsidise our Post Offices. Any harm done to our Post Office pensions must surely take into account our dalliance with the EU corporate monster.
The UK people have been betrayed by the politicians and unions – they are an absolute disgrace.
Appropriate for this time of year to use the phrase – Turkeys voting for Christmas.