UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Alexander’s Gambit – bypass unions to undermine pensions strike

The announcement by Danny Alexander MP on today’s BBC1 Marr Show that he would be bypassing unions and writing direct to all public sector employees outlining the Government’s position on pensions should surprise nobody: http://www.independent.
co.uk/news/uk/politics/
union-chiefs-hell-bent-on-strikes-6258043.html


Back in February 2011 the Daily Mail reported that ‘a secret ‘war plan’ to prevent a general strike has been drawn up by ministers – with thousands of union-busting workers lined up to cross militant picket lines. A unit has been set up in the Cabinet Office to prevent Britain grinding to a standstill in the event of mass public sector walkouts.’  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359327/Strike-busters-Secret-plans-tackle-mass-public-sector-walkout-threat.html#ixzz1cv8WfJuc

Communications are a key battleground in industrial action and other, far less benign, tactics will be among the strikebreaking contingency plans under consideration in the Cabinet Office war bunker: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_busting

But now that Alexander has thrown down the 'winning hearts and minds'gauntlet we must ensure that all members (and the public) understand the union case against the opportunist, unfair deficit tax on public service pension scheme members and the overturning of the 2005 agreement which ensured the viability of all schemes – say it once, say it a million times –

“Pay more, work longer, get less - Your pension is under attack!”