The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has accused the government of seeking confrontation by refusing to negotiate over plans to compulsorily change the public sector pension age from 60 to 65.
Speaking today at a fringe meeting on the first day of Labour’s spring conference, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, will charge the government with denying real choices for hundreds of thousands civil and public servants by forcing them to work up to five years more to receive their pension.
“The government talks about introducing more choice in public services, yet are denying the people who deliver them of real choices about their future,” he said.
“By denying choices on pensions for hundreds of thousands civil and public servants with the forced rise in the public sector pension age the government are seeking confrontation with its own workforce.
“Rather than forcing people, without negotiation, to work five more years to receive their pension entitlement it is time the government started engaging with the public sector unions and talking about giving real choices on pensions for civil and public servants.”
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The PCS is planning a day of action on pensions on 18 February.
