These changes will come into force in 2013 for existing civil servants and 2006 for new starters. More civil servants will be worked to death under government proposals.
Blair also wants to reduce the costs of the pension scheme by reducing the pitiful amounts civil servants receive when they retire.
In the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), civil servants retire on average with a pension of £4,800 under a final salary pension scheme. However Blair wants to introduce a career average pension scheme that will lead to a lower pension for the vast majority of the involvement of local government workers). Even managers in the DWP who had overwhelmingly scabbed in recent strikes were backing the dispute.
Thus workers were extremely disappointed when the left-led Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union executive called off a strike because the government had offered new talks on pensions.
Unfortunately Socialist Party and SWP members on the union's Executive voted to call off the strike, and led the retreat from a fight with the government.
However the PCS dispute for us to duck this fight again. was not just over pensions but jobs. After March 23, the government continues to slash the number of civil service jobs.
A lone voice on the union Executive echoed the views of many members by stating the strike should not be called off without the government making real concessions on pensions and jobs.
However the Executive failed deliver concessions in future meetings on pensions. They fear the government made overtures to the unions so it would not face an embarrassing strike in the run-up to the
Talks will not take place until after polling day when the union's negotiating hand will be weaker. The 'left leaders' of the PCS may have delivered another term for Blair, at the expense of their members.
Although SP and SWP members of the union executive allegedly want a new workers' party, they have done a service to Blair's party by their action.
Their decision has led some
Blair has promised to cut 100,000 jobs in the civil service but has avoided making compulsory redundancies before the election.
As on the pensions issue, Blair has a vested interest in putting off decisions in this area until after polling day. However there is no doubt Blair will do all he can in future to keep his promise, despite its effects on the poor.
When computer problems in the Child Support Agency were highlighted in the press, Blair was forced to keep 2000 civil servants there he wanted to get rid of, but later announced 2000 redundancies elsewhere in the DWP to compensate.
Obviously the Tories and Liberal Democrats offer no opposition Blair's job cuts.
We do need a new workers party to offer an alternative, and RESPECT deserves our support. However left wing Labour MPs may help the cause of civil servants if Blair has a small majority after an election.
Civil servants must try and influence the election debate. However we have to prepare for a fight with Blair, its likely victor after an election.
Without doubt, PCS members will need to strike for their pensions and against redundancies. It is helpful if we work with other unions to achieve our ends, but the union must be willing to fight alone if necessary. The stakes are too high for us to duck this fight again.