Today many have been striking over changes to public sector pensions. The Government proposes that employees pay more into their pensions, work longer, and that payment levels are calculated using the CPI rather than the RPI. Also proposed is a change from a final salary scheme to a ‘career average’ pension. Reforms have already been implemented to public sector pensions, and claims that pensions are ‘gold plated’ seem exaggerated. It has sometimes felt as though the Government has been trying to goad the unions into action, as though banking on the likelihood that strikes will be unpopular with the general public. However there seemed to be a high level of support for this action – many drivers waved or sounded their horns when they saw our picket line.
