The TUC has declared 18 February as a day of campaigning against proposed government plans to make changes to public sector pensions.
Of particular union concern is the Government’s determination to increase the retirement age for all public sector workers.
It comes after moves earlier this week by NHS employers to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 for health service workers.
Unions are also angry at plans to alter the way pensions are calculated.
The Government wants to base pensions on an employee’s average salary throughout their service. At present, pensions are calculated according to final salary levels.
According to the Government, the changes are about making the pensions system fairer, particularly for the lower paid, and are not a cash-saving measure.
“This issue is not going to go away,” said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. “There is enormous concern at the impact these proposals will have upon the lives of millions of public sector workers.”
On the day, the TUC will organise local rallies and other campaign events, and put pressure on local constituency MPs.
If implemented, the proposed changes would apply to new civil servants joining from 6 April 2006 and would apply to current employees from 1 April 2013.
