Four hundred thousand public workers in the UK on Thursday took to the streets nationwide in a 24-hour strike to protest the plans proposed by the government of David Cameron to reform the pension system.
According to information from the unions involved in the strike, public service employees, including police and immigration personnel, express their dissatisfaction with the new proposal that will them to work longer and earn less when they retire.
According to the head of the public sector union Unite, Gail Cartmail, dissatisfaction is such that it is the third time in six months they march against the project proposed by Prime Minister Cameron.
Cartmail said that “the government uses employees pensions to carry out their agenda, instead of pointing to the greed of the bankers.”
The UK budget deficit last March reached 6.4 percent of GDP.
“We marched for what we believe is right,” said Cartmail.
The spokesperson for the workers of the Ministry of Interior, Yvette Cooper, told British media that they joined the march in opposition to government policy “they have removed thousands of police stations across the country and this is irresponsible.”
Cooper added that “this government is going too far and too fast, the extent of these cuts is simply harmful.”
Government will continue with the plan
Cabinet Minister, Francis Maude, said Thursday that there was “no sense” to the strike and recalled that the Government will press ahead with reform, which envisages increased contributions and raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 years by 2028.
“Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions remain the best and can be maintained in the future,” said Maude.
Despite the marches and protests by workers, Queen Elizabeth II confirmed to Parliament that the proposed pension reduction is a priority for this year.
[wpsr_facebook][wpsr_retweet][wpsr_plusone][wpsr_sharethis]