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Steel unions ballot over attack on pensions

STEELWORKERS kicked off a strike ballot yesterday after stubborn bosses pressed their pensions attack.

Tata Steel employees represented by unions Ucatt, Community and the GMB said that plans to close its inherited British Steel Pension Scheme to future accrual would put members’ hard-earned benefits at risk.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss said that Tata had not shown any willingness to work in a collaborative or co-operative spirit or to re-enter meaningful discussions with the unions.

“This is not a situation we wanted to find ourselves in,” he said.

“The unions were prepared to discuss changes that resolved the challenges faced by the scheme but Tata rejected that constructive offer.

“We are urging our members to vote for strike action.”

A Tata spokesman said that bosses had opened a consultation with workers since talks broke down with reps.

“We will consider employees’ views before making a final decision,” he added.

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