Border Telegraph | News | Services shutdown

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 29th March, 2006 10:07

Services shutdown

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

STRIKE action over pensions brought council services across the Borders to a standstill yesterday (Tuesday).

Six high schools and 22 primary schools were closed, with disruption to rubbish collection, recycling and road works all part of the one-day industrial action.

The strike was against the government’s proposals to scrap rules allowing workers to retire on a full pension at 60.

Although less than a third of Scottish Borders Council staff are members of the striking unions, many provide services direct to the public or support to front-line workers.

This has been the case in many schools, as although the teaching union did not strike, schools were unable to open without staff such as janitors and playground supervisors.

Striking workers picketed outside SBC headquarters in Newtown on Tuesday morning, before taking a bus to Edinburgh to join in wider protests outside the Scottish Parliament and in Princes Street Gardens.

Bill Baird, Transport and General Workers Union steward, said: “People are under the impression that we get the pensions for nothing.

“We have to contribute as well, and the government have changed the rules so that we will lose a hell of a lot of money and won’t have the option of retiring at 60.”

He added: “The turnout shows that there is feeling in the way that we are being treated by the government.

“It is not against the council, it is against the government.”

Linda Jackson, Unison steward, said: “It means instead of working until we are 60, we have to work until we are 65.

“People have been saying that we want special treatment, but all we want is the pensions we agreed to. They are changing the rules mid-stream.”

She continued: “The other thing that is upsetting people is that some people that work in the same area, but with different rules.

“A classroom assistant would have to work until they are 65, but a teacher is protected.”

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