Pensions strike - build for action on and after N30

Discussing on Saturday with fellow activists what we need to do to defend our pensions, it was clear that our number one priority must be to maximise the turnout - and the "YES" vote - in the coming ballot.

Floorwalking, leafletting, workplace meetings and branch meetings are needed everywhere - as is an LGPS pensions calculator to accompany the NHS pensions calculator on our website (http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/reckoner.asp).

The first and most important task we face is to secure first the vote and then the turnout on strike on 30 November.

This work will inevitably take up the majority of our time and attention - and branches should be offering support and assistance to other local branches who may require this.

However, at our branch meetings in particular we need to be considering our views about the future strategy from 1 December on, both in relation to the tactics of industrial action and to negotiations with the Government. Not least because one of the first questions members ask is what happens next.

I don't think it's good enough that our union leaders do not plan to meet to consider further action, after the 30 November strike, until 5 December.

Given the probable Parliamentary timetable (regs laid in january!) to legislate to force through the "contributions increase" which is really a tax on membership of a public sector pension scheme, we need to plan further action - and possibly more than just another single day - after "N30" and before Xmas.

Since teachers will be reluctant to strike in the last week of term, a meeting of union leaders on 1 December would be essential if we are to have enough time to notify the employers of the next day of action, we could for example following the huge success that I believe Nov 30th will be by writing to employers saying we will have a further 2 days strike on say the 10th and 11th of December. (Any financial deduction for those strike days wouldn't come out of members wages until January)

We need to follow our leaders into this battle to defend our pensions - but with most of unison's decision making meetings where we could vote on strategy/motions being turned into pensions briefings. (Yes we need to do all we can to maximise pensions vote and action but surely could manage keep with democratic decision making meetings at the same time?) We needto find alternative ways of giving our members and branches views to those leading this dispute.

At branch meetings we need to express our views about where this dispute needs to be led after 30 November and ensure these are forwarded to our national officers.

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