Hundreds of thousands of civil servants – and workers in health and education – are striking to challenge attacks on pensions. Across the private and public sector people are being forced to work longer, and pay more, for smaller pensions. On the 10th May 2012 support those who are Defending their Rights, and thereby Defending Your Rights.

Solidarity works best when we`re together!

Today`s strike follows the largest day of strike action seen in the UK in decades which took place on November 30th.

In Gloucestershire, people are meeting at Pullman Court (opposite Gloucester Royal Hospital) at 12.15pm

The unions taking part in the day of strike action are:

Unite the Union (Unite) is the country’s biggest union. 100,000 members in the health service, and 25,000 in the Ministry of Defence and other government departments who will be joining the action. See the Unite press release on the strike here: http://www.unitetheunion.org/news__events/latest_news/thousands_of_unite_s_public_se.aspx.

(Unite’s health members voted by a margin of more than 94% to reject the pensions’ package. Their concerns regarding the NHS schemes centre on three areas:
• The linking of the NHS pension age to the rising state pension age – which is set to rise to 68 and beyond.
• Most Unite NHS members will see their pension contributions increased from 6.5 per cent to 9.3 per cent over the next three years
• The proposed new scheme will deliver considerably less pension when members retire, or a pension paid only for a much shorter retirement, and pensions during retirement will be further reduced due to lower consumer price index (CPI) indexation.)

Public and Commerical Services Union (PCS) is the UK’s largest civil service trade union, which also organises widely in the private sector, usually in areas that have been privatised. About 250,000 civil servants and workers in government agencies will join the strike. See the PCS page on the strike here: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/10-may–all-out/index.cfm)

The University and College Union (UCU) is the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff. See the UCU page on the strike here: http://tps.web.ucu.org.uk/

You can also follow their live blog here (photos and messages from around the country on the day http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6077)

Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA)  the biggest civil service union in Northern Ireland has called its members out on strike. See their page on the strike here: http://www.nipsa.org.uk/Press-Releases/NIPSA-Members-To-Take-Strike-Action-On-Thursday,-1

Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT)  workers in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, who are in the civil service pension scheme, will join the action. See the RMT page here: http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=158900

In London, the PCS has agreed to meet at 12 noon at St Thomas’ Hospital for a march across to Central Hall, Westminster, for a strike rally at the St Thomas Hospital picket line, under the banner “Lets fight together to protect our FREE NHS CARE.” The PCS have said that this is not only about pensions, but about fighting privatization of our FREE FOR ALL NHS SERVICE.