Campaign Against the Cuts and Industrial Action Ballot
17/10/2011
It would be helpful if as many NIPSA members as possible could adopt the model letter and send to the MLAs for their constituency.
Click here to download pdf circular
Click here to download word letter to MLAs
Dear Colleague
The NIPSA General Council at its meeting on Friday, 14 October 2011 decided to ask as many members as possible to write to their MLAs expressing their own support for the union’s decision to ballot its members for industrial action on pensions, pay and job losses.
The objective is to enlist the active support of members in the campaign and to put pressure on our MLAs to declare their support for the trade unions in their action to defend the pay, pensions and terms and conditions of its members.
This is particularly relevant in the lead up to the planned day of strike action on 30 November although NIPSA participation will be contingent on a "yes" vote in the ballot.
I have attached a model letter to MLAs and for convenience a link to a document giving the names and addresses of all 108 MLAs.
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/ELU/newsletters/MLA_Contact_Details.pdf
It would be helpful if you could arrange as many NIPSA members as possible to adopt the letter in their own name and send by letter or email to the MLAs for their constituency.
In respect of email please ensure that you use your personal email address and not that of your employer.
Yours sincerely
BRIAN CAMPFIELD
General Secretary
Model Letter to MLAs
Home Address
October 2011
Dear MLA (insert name)
I am writing as one of your constituents to explain why as a public sector worker I fully support my trade union NIPSA in its desire to ballot its members for industrial action in response to the Government’s attacks on public sector workers and public services.
Of course any right minded person, whether in the public or private sector, regards industrial action and strikes as an absolute last resort. With your indulgence I would like to make a few observations on the issues that have given rise to the NIPSA industrial action ballot.
Pensions: My union will have already sent to you a copy of its publication “Public Sector Pensions – Myths and Facts”.
The UK Government is increasing the pension contributions for public servants and expects to raise by this measure in the region of £6.3bn. This money is being raised not to fund public service pensions which are both affordable and sustainable, but to reduce the public debt caused to a large extent by the bail out of banks and other financial institutions. The same Government, unilaterally, without any consultation whatsoever with trade unions or pensioners interests, decided to change the mechanism by which public service pension in payment is uprated from the Retail Price Index to the Consumer Price Index. This will reduce the value of the public service pension by at least 15% over the life time of the public service pensioners.
Pay: All public sector workers have been subject to a two year pay freeze and before that our pay was restricted within very tight pay remits determined by HM Treasury. Taking into account the rate of inflation the value of our pay over the last 7 years or more has reduced significantly and for low and middle income earners the real inflation rate for basic necessities including food and fuel is in excess of 10%. Further reductions in take home pay will make this situation worse.
Job Losses: The £4-5bn cut from the Northern Ireland block grant will cut employment numbers in the public service significantly especially at a time when the private sector continues to contract.
I should mention that I am concerned whenever public commentators and politicians alike argue that because workers in the private sector have been made redundant, had their hours reduced and suffered a pay freeze or pay cut that it is only fair that the public sector should be subject to similar treatment. It is important to understand that thousands of families in Northern Ireland who have suffered a reduction in their income and well being because of the contraction in the private sector are relying on the income of one or more family member(s) employed in the public sector. It is a perverse view of fairness that suggests the family should suffer another hit through attacks on the jobs, pay and pension of the family member(s) who is a public servant.
I would therefore ask you to support the trade unions when they take a stand to defend the livelihoods not only of their own members and their families but of the wider community.
Yours sincerely
Signature
Name
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