Public service workers in Bradford picket over pensions (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Public service workers in Bradford picket over pensions

10:03am Thursday 10th May 2012 in News By Kathie Griffiths , T&A Reporter

Public sector workers were picketing their work places today in a long-running row over pensions.

In the city centre there were strikers outside the tax office in Forster Square, Job Centres in Vicar Lane and Manningham Lane and Bradford Crown Court.

Thousands of people across the district including NHS staff, lecturers and college workers, along with other staff in Government offices were due to join the national action in opposition to changes to public sector pension arrangements.

Services were expected to face disruption as members of Unite, the Public and Commercial Services union and the University and College Union demonstrated their anger at changes to their pensions.

Jackie Green, of the Public and Commercial Services union, who was outside Braford Crown Court, said because of the action the court’s reception and counters were shut today and senior mangers were having to step in to keep some courts open.

The PCS union was expecting to have about 2,700 members on strike in the Bradford district.

Mrs Green said: “We are here because changes mean our members are having to pay more contributions to their pensions, work longer and will get less for it at the end oftheirworking life. We area lso here becaue ofthrets to the service we provide and that privatisation which would effect some of the most vulnerable people insociety - it is an erosion of the welfare state.

“Today’s action is just one day but we have a whole programme planned - it will be a summer of discontent.”