Broken pensions promises protest

Pictured are some of the six hundred Unite members that took strike action today (January 19) at the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s (AWE) two sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, as part of a 48 hours protest over pensions.

Len McCluskey met workers on the picket line bringing the solidarity of the union to the ‘broken promises’ pensions’ dispute that stems from AWE workers being transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the private sector.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey told members, “In the early 1990s, the then-Tory government made iron-clad promises to AWE workers regarding the future of their pensions, once they transferred to the private sector.

“These promises have now been broken as the AWE bosses want to slash the retirement incomes by jettisoning the current defined benefit pension scheme. Our members could lose thousands of pounds when they retire, which is a disgrace.

“It is clear that this pledge has been broken and you, our members, feel deeply betrayed. You have Unite’s 100 per cent support and solidarity in this dispute.”

The Unite general secretary added, “We call upon defence secretary Michael Fallon to honour those pension pledges made 25 years ago.”

A further 48 hours action will take place on Monday, January 30.

Pics by Mark Thomas