Union supports package of reforms

A union boss says government short-sightedness is to blame for the public sector pensions funding crisis.

Proposals to reform the pensions of around 6,000 public workers will be put before Tynwald this month.

A package of measures to reduce a deficit of tens of millions of pounds annually, has been agreed after more than a year of negotiations between employers and staff representatives.

They include increased pension contributions from workers and employers, and reduced future retirement benefits.

The Public Sector Pensions Authority's proposals are supported by a majority of staff unions - including Unite, which is recommending the package to 1800 affected members.

Leader Eric Holmes says a previous attempt to make pensions sustainable failed because its consequences were not grasped.

Mr Holmes says the introduction of the Government Unified Scheme (GUS) did not solve the growing deficit - and responsibility lies at the very top: