FDA concern at public sector pension age rise - 11 June 2003

The FDA today joined in the chorus of concern at the Government's announcement of an intended rise in the pension age in the public sector to 65. While the FDA welcomes many of the proposals announced today by the Secretary of State, the announcement of changes in pension age are wholly unwelcome. The FDA does not believe that the Government has made a case for this change and is concerned that they have ignored the views of trade unions and the TUC who all rejected an imposed change in pension age in the public sector.

FDA General Secretary Jonathan Baume said: "We are saddened that the Government appears in its statement today to give greater weight to the views of the Institute of Directors - many of whose members are responsible for the current pensions crisis - rather than listening to the trade unions who represent literally millions of their own employees. The FDA will be joining with unions across the public sector to resist this change."

The FDA has joined other civil service unions in calling on the TUC to take a lead in the public sector in providing a co-ordinated response to the Government's proposals.

Notes for Editors
1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 11,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

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