RMT staff in pension row vote

The biggest rail workers' union is joining the public sector pensions dispute by balloting its members working for a city's metro service, it was announced today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said workers on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle will vote on whether to take industrial action.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT has always said that where there is scope for us to organise and co-ordinate strategies with other trade unions that we will do just that.

"Tyne and Wear Metro workers are directly affected by the attack on the Local Government Pension Scheme and we have no hesitation in balloting for action.

"It is a scandal that workers who have made pension provisions and planned for the long-term are taking the hit for a financial crisis created by the reckless and greedy actions of the spivs and speculators from the banks and business sector.

"Wherever RMT members are threatened by the ConDems' austerity cuts we will fight back and wherever there is an opportunity to co-ordinate our campaigns and actions with fellow trade unionists to maximise our impact we will seize it."

Several public sector unions are planning to ballot workers for industrial action in protest at controversial Government plans to increase pension contributions by 3.2%.

The TUC has called a day of action on November 30, threatening the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest for years.

PA