PCS takes campaign to ministers' constituencies
24 Apr 2012 12:36 PM
Union members in four key ministers' constituencies in London and the south east lobbied their MPs on Saturday as part of the campaign to highlight the unfairness of attacks on low-paid public servants' pensions, pay and jobs.
Members in Cabinet Office minster Francis Maude's Horsham seat were joined by colleagues from Brighton and Worthing and local members of teachers' union the NUT. Civil service union members also lobbied the offices of education minister Michael Gove in Surrey Heath, and those of Iain Duncan Smith - secretary of state for work and pension - in Chingford.
Despite PCS members writing to their respective MPs in these locations, to request appointments and discuss the issues, none of the three Conservative ministers agreed to see their constituents.However, in Twickenham, business secretary Vince Cable did agree to meet PCS constituents, and listened to the members concerns.
They handed him signed copies of the 'Stop the great Pensions Robbery' card and gave him a copy of the 'Fair Pensions For All' booklet. The minister was told that all we wanted was for the coalition to negotiate on the core issues of working longer, paying more and getting less and to demonstrate the injustice of this.
Local DWP rep Declan Power showed Mr Cable his pension calculation showing how much more he would be paying and how much he would lose. The MP said he would raise this with chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander. The conversation went on to pay and specifically regional pay, of which Vince Cable said he was totally opposed to.
A fifth lobby in the region will take place on Saturday (28 April) in David Cameron's Witney constituency, as a joint event with Oxfordshire Trades Council.
We call on any member who can, to come along and join us, at noon at the Green in Witney, and help make this an even bigger event.