new york travel: Thousands stage pensions strike

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thousands stage pensions strike

Some UK Border Agency staff are going on strike at sea ports and airports

Some civil servants have begun industrial action as part of a strike involving hundreds of thousands in protest at changes to their pensions.

Some UK Border Agency staff began strike action at 1800 BST.

About 600,000 teachers and civil servants are striking on Thursday over planned pension changes they say will mean working longer and paying more.

Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs it was unfair of the strikers to cause problems for everyone.

He said government plans were "fair to taxpayers" and the public sector.

Four trade unions are taking part in strike action on Thursday.

Three are teaching unions - the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the University and College Union (UCU).

They will be joined by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) which has around 250,000 members.

The government believes one in five of the nation's 500,000 civil servants will take strike action.

Addressing Parliament during prime minister's questions, Mr Cameron said: "I don't believe there is any case for industrial action tomorrow, not least because talks are still on-going."

"It's only a minority of unions who have taken the decision to go ahead and strike."

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said: "Strike action is unnecessary and premature while discussions - set up at the request of the TUC - are ongoing.

"The majority of civil servants and teachers themselves did not vote for this action, showing how extremely limited support is for this strike.

LATEST ON LIKELY DISRUPTIONSchools: Information about 75% of schools. One third to close, one third to open as normal and one third to be "partially affected"Job Centres and Courts: Will remain open "wherever possible"Benefits: Little disruption expected as most claims are automatedCustoms/immigration: Trained managers to be redeployed to ensure full checks are conducted and borders remain secureCivil service: One in five workers will strike. Staff to be allowed to bring their children into workParliament: Operating as normal with full access maintained

Sources: No 10 spokesman/Parliament spokesman

Why Miliband is against strikes

"We can assure the public that we have rigorous contingency plans in place to ensure that their essential services are maintained during the strike action on Thursday.

"We will do all we can to make sure it is business as usual tomorrow and that people can continue to claim their benefits, pay their pensions and access job centre websites."

Travellers have been warned to expect delays on arrival at UK ports and airports on Thursday.

However, people leaving the UK will not be affected because departing passengers come into contact with security staff, employed by airport operator BAA, who will not be taking industrial action.

BAA, which runs Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said: "UK Border Agency has now changed its advice to passengers and is no longer advising that those who can do so may wish to travel on other dates.

"We're disappointed that industrial action by PCS may lead to disruption for people arriving in the UK tomorrow."

The airport operator said the UK Border Agency had "introduced contingency plans to manage the situation".

A third of schools will be open, a third of schools with be partially effected and a third of schools will be closed, according to the BBC's political correspondent Ben Wright.

This is because of 24-hour strike action by members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

Business leaders have warned of the impact of the walkout on the economy.

The British Chambers of Commerce said many parents would lose pay for taking the day off work to look after their children, and productivity would be hit.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the strikes would be a "mistake", and that both sides should get back round the negotiating table.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.