PENSIONS


Find outmore HERE Settle pensions now call


Defence secretary Michael Fallon has been warned there will be further delays to the government’s flagship Trident programme, unless the long- running pensions dispute at AWE plc – the Atomic Weapons Establishment – is settled.


In February Unite acting general secretary Gail Cartmail wrote to the defence secretary asking for ‘an urgent meeting’, as the ‘betrayed’ workers at the AWE geared up for two more days of strike.


The dispute centres on copper-


bottomed pledges made in the early 1990s by the then-Tory government to AWE workers regarding the future of their pensions, once they transferred to the private sector.


BUS WORKERS


These promises have now been broken as AWE bosses closed the defined benefit pension scheme on January 31, leaving employees facing thousands of pounds being slashed from their retirement incomes.


It has been replaced with a defined contribution scheme where the final retirement income is not guaranteed.


In her letter Gail Cartmail said, “Many of our members have given decades of service to AWE and without their skill and professionalism the Trident programme would not have been delivered.” She warned that further strike action would cause “further delays to the Trident programme”.


The dispute continues.


Find outmore HERE ‘Fairer deal’ result


Unite general secretary Len McCluskey hailed the ‘ground-breaking’ package announced by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan in December, which introduced a minimum pay rate for London’s bus drivers.


The package was the culmination of talks between Unite, Transport for London and London’s bus operators.


As well as the introduction of a £23,000 minimum salary for bus drivers, the package sees the introduction of a Licence for London allowing drivers to move between companies taking with them their qualifications and seniority. It also sees the roll out of a Unite led equality programme ensuring the diversity of the capital is reflected in management.


“The package was a testament to the tireless campaigning and determination


of Unite members across the capital’s bus garages. It demonstrated what can be achieved when progressive politicians work well with trade unions to support positive industrial relations,” said Len.


But he added there was still more to do and called on the Mayor to now work towards a London-wide pay structure “that brings stability for bus workers and drives up standards for London’s bus passengers.”


9 uniteWORKS Summer 2016


Mark Thomas Mark Thomas


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