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06-Aug-08 11:24 [Pensions]
Pilots to strike over pensions row Members of the GMB that are employed by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) have walked out today in a 24-hour protest over pensions, it has emerged.
Over 30 union members at West Drayton, near to Heathrow, started their strike at 0600 BST after talks broke down, with Balpa citing a pension deficit of £4.6 million as the key factor in their revision of terms, which includes increasing the pension age from 60 to 65.
Speaking to the BBC, GMB organiser Dave Kent slammed Balpa in what he described as a "disgraceful case of hypocrisy" after the union fought to protect its final salary pension schemes, only to close it to new entrants and revise the benefits given to existing staff.
He said: "There is no economic justification for these changes because Balpa is one of the most successful and financially robust trade unions in the UK."
Other countries have recently seen pilot strikes, notably Germany where 500 flights were cancelled last month due to Lufthansa pilots walking out, with plans in motion for a second strike this month.
The use of company pension schemes is "vital" if a person wants to enjoy a top standard of living upon retirement, it has been stated.
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Final salary benefit pension schemes are to see a greater fall soon, with a growth in scheme closures to existing members as large employers look to lose their remaining liability, it has been revealed.
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The Scottish National Party (SNP) has rejected an offer by the government after Westminster proposed a reform of the police pension system in Scotland in return for extra funding.
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