Why we’re striking on N30
30 November will see up to three million public sector workers, representing 28 trade unions, taking part in the biggest strike for 85 years. Public sector workers are striking to stop the government’s attacks on their pension rights, which mean they will have to pay more for their pensions, work longer and then retire on lower pensions. However, the strike is also crucial to the fight against all the ConDem cuts. Public sector workers told the Socialist Party Scotland why they are striking on N30.
The civil service workers
I intend to strike on the 30th of November because of the unwillingness of the current government to participate in any meaningful negotiations.
As a lone parent I stand to lose 18.5% of my income as a result of reductions to public services. I will also have to contribute an extra £100 a month in increased pension contribution.
I have worked since I was 17 and will have a pension of less than £4000 per year to look forward to. This fills me with a sense of outrage as for much of my working life I was too low paid to afford pension contributions.
That is why I will withdraw my labour on the 30th and I look forward to escalating the action should it be required. We must stand together and we must stand firm against these outrageous attacks on our class.
Fiona McDonald PCS member Scottish government
As a PCS member I will be pleased to be joined by 20 other unions to stand up to the government on N30 and demand that they listen to us, we will not accept their austerity measures.
The new scheme will cost an average of £63 extra a month. How are ordinary civil servants such as job centre and pension centre workers supposed to pay this when are we have a pay freeze and rocketing inflation, particulary on essentials such as food!
For this campaign to be successful, it is unlikely that one day of strike action will be enough, N30 will have to be the first of many days of united trade union action. “
A Dundee pension centre worker
The local government worker
“The members I represent are extremely angry at this Government of the rich that intends to make them pay for this bankers crisis. We need to fight back and fight back collectively across all workplace in public and private sectors.”
Ian Leech Glasgow City Unison Local Government Branch
The teacher
Increased contributions from teachers and Health Service pension schemes in Scotland will allow the Government to steal an additional £230 million a year from us.
N30 ‘s one-day public sector general strike should be seen as a starting point for further industrial action to protect us from present and future attacks on our living standards by the governments of big business in both Holyrood and Westminster.
Jim Halfpenny EIS member West Dunbartonshire
The nurse
Workers in the NHS haven’t taken national strike action since the 1980’s. The fact that Unison was prepared to ballot and advocate support for action has emboldened our members. Everyone wants to walk out on the 30th November.
November 30th will be a sea change, but we’ll need further national coordinated action to force the government to back down. Believe me NHS workers are up for a fight, whatever it takes.
