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Unite union: Unhappy at steel pension deal precedent

The union representing workers at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site says they are worried about the precedent the Government's proposed plan to cut steel pension benefits could set.

The union representing workers at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site has reacted to the government's plan to cut pension benefits in order to save the company's UK operations.

Mark Turner of the Unite union says he "wants to see the detail" and is reluctant to set a precedent in negotiations "if it's going to be detrimental to the rest of the UK's industries".

The government deal could see a reduction to the benefits of 130,000 pension scheme members. This will be achieved by changing the annual increase from the current Retail Price measure of inflation to the Consumer Price Index, which is usually lower.

Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Owen Smith said "dealing with the Tata pension scheme" is a key part of "saving our steel industry" but it is "totally inappropriate for ministers to rush" this announcement.

The Department of Work And Pensions declined to comment ahead of the ministerial statement.

This clip is originally from Dotun Adebayo on Wednesday 25 May 2016.

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