The threat of strikes over local government pensions inched closer today as the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) announced plans to ballot members on industrial action.
With a strike ballot already scheduled by Unison, the move means that two of the three main local government unions could go on strike in March over controversial changes to local government pension schemes.
Council staff are angry at imminent changes to the local government pension scheme which come into force a year ahead of other public sector schemes, claiming they will be required to "work longer for less".
Changes coming into force this April will see the retirement age rise from 60 to 65, and the rule allowing council workers to take early retirement with a secure income scrapped.
The average local government pension is just £3,800pa, already well below the average pension in the economy as a whole.
Both unions carried out consultation exercises with members' which showed a majority in favour of strike action - ahead of the costly business of formal balloting over both the changes coming in next April and further changes out for consultation due to come into force in 2008.
Ballots for both the T&G and Unison close on 9 March.
Peter Allenson, the T&G national secretary for public services, said: "The government is intent on making hard-pressed council workers work longer for less. We reject a 'work 'til you drop' culture, and the government should be setting an example in pension provision rather than pushing through cuts to benefits.
"If the government makes pension cuts to an already low-paid workforce we would have serious concerns about members' poverty in retirement. Council leaders and government cannot ignore the implications of these changes."
Unison announced its decision to ballot members over the proposed changes earlier this month.
However, the second largest local government union, the GMB, has ruled out industrial action following its own consultation exercise.
The union, which has around 250,000 council members, announced it will only undertake a concerted course of campaigning over further changes to the local government scheme being proposed by 2008.
