Tata pensions strike

Steel workers at Tata will be balloted for strike action in an attempt to save their pension scheme from being closed down by Tata Steel Europe.

Steel unions today (Monday April 13) announced the opening date of the ballot as Wednesday May 6 with it expected to close on Friday May 29.

The closure of the British Steel pension scheme (BSPS) will affect about 17,000 workers. It will be the first industrial dispute at Tata in over 30 years.

Steel unions, Unite, Community, UCATT and GMB have been in talks with Tata since November 2014 to try and reach an agreement that addresses the deficit in the scheme.

But management have not taken up the union’s offer to re-enter discussions about the pension scheme.

“We have lost all faith in the company and its leadership, which has brought us to a major national industrial dispute for the first time in over 30 years,” said Roy Rickhuss, national trade union steel co-ordinating committee chair.

“Our members are determined to stand up for their pension and therefore we have no option but to proceed to an industrial action ballot in May.”

The decision to close the scheme is not in line with Tata’s values, which commit its companies to improve the quality of life of the communities that they serve.

It is proposed that future pension provision will be on a defined contribution basis.

All the unions are working together to defend member’s pensions.

“There can be no doubt about the strength of feeling among employees in opposition to Tata Steel Europe’s unnecessary and unjustified decision to close the scheme.” said Harish Patel, Unite national officer.

“The only solution now to change the company’s course of action is to ballot for industrial action,” he added.