Hackney public sector workers strike over pensions

Sunlight at the picket line, Homerton Hospital. Photograph: Glenn McMahon

Hackney’s refuse collectors and street cleaners got the local part of national strike under way at the crack of dawn this morning as up to two million public sector workers take industrial action across the country in a bid to protect their pensions.

The government wants to increase contributions made by staff by 3% while extending the age of retirement by one more year from 2020 for the same payout following retirement.

However, dozens of staff could be seen crossing picket lines at Homerton Hospital, Hackney Town Hall and the Technology and Learning Centre, which houses the library, museum and The Learning Trust, while street cleaners could be seen at work on Mare Street prompting an angry reaction by a striking teacher.

Karen Lynn, Unison’s education convenor for Hackney, said: “Some people don’t want to lose a day’s pay, and some are young and think pensions are so far away they’re not important to them at the moment.”

Hackney Council said its waste and leisure centres, which are contracted out, would be unaffected by the strike, but all libraries, except Stamford Hill, are closed and Hackney Homes would be carrying out only emergency repairs.

The majority of schools are also closed due to the action, however, Mossbourne Academy said it was closed for routine staff training while Petchey Academy is open to three year groups.

Civilian police staff were reportedly also striking along with some PCSOs.

Ms Lynn said: “I hope the government will listen. No one chooses to strike, but people do feel strongly. It’s our money we pay into our pensions. The government has no right to take it. It’s like a savings bond. The average female pension is only £4,000 a year so we can’t afford to have it taken away.”

Paramedics and ambulance drivers kept warm outside their station on Homerton High Street as they huddled round a bin-fire encouraged by cars tooting their horns in support.

However, attempts to prevent a laundry van crossing the picket line at nearby Homerton Hospital failed as a private security guard intervened, upsetting one nurse who argued non-essential deliveries should be turned back.

Ruth Woolhouse, Unison’s shop steward for the child and mental health department of the hospital, said the threat of cuts to people’s pensions had boosted recruitment to the union in recent months, but there was still work to do.

She said: “We had redundancies in April and our managers have told us there will be more next April as they need to make a 4% cut in efficiency savings every year, but we still have the same amount of work to do.”

Back at the waste depot,  Jim, the Unison shop steward, warned of further strikes if the government did not listen. He said: “We had a strike two years ago but this is more heartfelt, it’s a popular strike. The union has put forward reasonable options, but they [the government] are just saying no, but I think they [the negotiations] will come to a reasonable conclusion [otherwise] it could happen again in the new year.”

But George Osborne has criticised the unions for taking strike action while talks were still ongoing.

A Hackney Council spokesperson advised residents with non-urgent enquiries to contact the Town Hall on another day, but said the council would be keeping services in place for its most vulnerable residents.