HUDDERSFIELD trades unionists predicted public sector strikes to fight plans to change millions of workers’ pensions.

Lord Hutton yesterday published a major review of pensions for government workers including council staff, civil servants, teachers, police, soldiers and firefighters.

The former Labour minister has recommended that many public sector staff should contribute more to their pensions, receive less and work longer.

Lord Hutton said yesterday that linking pensions to career average earnings rather than final salary would make the system affordable.

But Paul Holmes, of trade union Unison, predicted industrial action if the Government implements the plan.

The Kirklees branch secretary said: “I understand there will be national negotiations in June but with the sort of rise proposed, there’s no doubt there will be strike action.”

Mr Holmes, who represents 7,500 Kirklees Council staff, said the Hutton Report would force local government workers to pay more into their pension funds. He said: “On average our members pay 6.1%, but they are talking about increasing that to 9%.

“That would mean a 50% increase for a smaller pension at a later date.”

Mr Holmes added that councils were to blame for problems with local government pensions.

He said: “Employers contributed nothing for a long time in the 1980s and 90s, they took pension holidays.

“From 1980 to 1995 they paid 0% in half of those years because our members’ contributions were enough to cover the outgoings.

“But the people that councils let go 15 years ago are still alive.”

The National Union of Teachers’ Kirklees secretary Howard Roberts also predicted strikes over the pension plan yesterday.

“I envisage industrial action over this because it’s a breach of faith,” he said.

“There will be resistance to this quite shocking all-out attack on our pensions.”

Teachers with 40 years’ service currently receive an annual pension of half their final salary.

But Mr Roberts pointed out that most people weren’t able to claim that much.

He said: “Very few people get half their final salary because they don’t have 40 years’ service – particularly women who have taken time off for child-rearing.”

Mr Roberts believes the proposed pension changes will drive young people away from teaching.

“Nearly 50% of new teachers leave the profession within five years and Hutton’s plan will increase this number,” he said.

Bill Chard of trade union GMB also predicted industrial action yesterday.

The West Yorkshire membership secretary said: “Our members are very angry about this and strike action isn’t out of the question if the Government doesn’t listen to us.”

Mr Chard said most public sector workers did not have large pension pots.

He said: “Hutton says the average pension is £6,000, which hardly counts as gold-plated. For women the average figure is closer to £3,000.”

The GMB represents 1,500 workers in Kirklees, including teaching assistants, cleaners, cooks and bin men.

Mr Chard said some of these staff would be forced to work well into their 60s.

“Some refuse workers and highways workers will not be physically able to go on working until they are 65, 66 or 68.”

Lord Hutton yesterday published the results of his nine-month investigation into public sector pensions.

He recommended replacing final salary pensions with career average pensions by 2015.

Lord Hutton also proposed that staff start receiving their pension at 65 rather than 60.