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| AstraZeneca strike and the state of pensions | AstraZeneca strike and the state of pensions |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News, Macclesfield | By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter, BBC News, Macclesfield |
| If they believed in divine intervention, striking workers at AstraZeneca's drug factory in Macclesfield would have given up some time ago. | If they believed in divine intervention, striking workers at AstraZeneca's drug factory in Macclesfield would have given up some time ago. |
| At 1500BST exactly - as the afternoon walkout in their pensions dispute begins - the heavens open, the rain lashes down and the umbrellas go up. | At 1500BST exactly - as the afternoon walkout in their pensions dispute begins - the heavens open, the rain lashes down and the umbrellas go up. |
| "Have you got a dry one?" asks one woman hopefully, as the trade union flags are handed out to GMB members. | "Have you got a dry one?" asks one woman hopefully, as the trade union flags are handed out to GMB members. |
| It was the same during last week's strike, when it poured on their picket parade all day. | It was the same during last week's strike, when it poured on their picket parade all day. |
| But they remain powerless to stop the rain, as powerless - they say - as they were to prevent changes made to their pension scheme earlier in the summer. | |
| The company disagrees, arguing that extensive consultation was held with employee representatives and the unions before changes were implemented on 1 July, and that there were changes to the original proposals. | The company disagrees, arguing that extensive consultation was held with employee representatives and the unions before changes were implemented on 1 July, and that there were changes to the original proposals. |
| AstraZeneca has also frozen pensionable salaries for those existing members of the defined benefit pension scheme who opt to stay in it. | |
| 'Taking advantage' | 'Taking advantage' |
| Similar talks, and similar changes to pension arrangements, are occurring throughout the UK. | Similar talks, and similar changes to pension arrangements, are occurring throughout the UK. |
| So are the Macclesfield strikers fighting for themselves or for all those facing pension changes? | So are the Macclesfield strikers fighting for themselves or for all those facing pension changes? |
| "Nationally, the GMB has sat down with companies that cannot afford to pay pensions, and it has been amicable," says the union's regional organiser and flag distributor Neil Holden. | "Nationally, the GMB has sat down with companies that cannot afford to pay pensions, and it has been amicable," says the union's regional organiser and flag distributor Neil Holden. |
| "But this is a special case," he said of the firm that reported pre-tax profits of £1.9bn in the three months to the end of June. | "But this is a special case," he said of the firm that reported pre-tax profits of £1.9bn in the three months to the end of June. |
| "A lot of other companies do not make the profits that AstraZeneca do. | "A lot of other companies do not make the profits that AstraZeneca do. |
| "We understand that it has shareholders to pay, and the economic situation in the world is difficult, but we believe that AstraZeneca is taking advantage of the economic situation." | "We understand that it has shareholders to pay, and the economic situation in the world is difficult, but we believe that AstraZeneca is taking advantage of the economic situation." |
| Looming liability | Looming liability |
| The final salary pension - or defined benefit scheme - has been closed to new members since 2000. | The final salary pension - or defined benefit scheme - has been closed to new members since 2000. |
| But the firm says this scheme still represents two-thirds of its total global pension deficit. | But the firm says this scheme still represents two-thirds of its total global pension deficit. |
| It is now giving workers the opportunity to switch to a defined contribution scheme - with higher contributions than for those who joined the DC scheme in the last 10 years. | It is now giving workers the opportunity to switch to a defined contribution scheme - with higher contributions than for those who joined the DC scheme in the last 10 years. |
| Despite making £645m in extra contributions during the past decade, the defined benefit scheme still has a deficit of £1.4bn, it says. | Despite making £645m in extra contributions during the past decade, the defined benefit scheme still has a deficit of £1.4bn, it says. |
| And in this nutshell is the kind of debate being held between bosses and unions up and down the country. | And in this nutshell is the kind of debate being held between bosses and unions up and down the country. |
| 'We're negotiating' | 'We're negotiating' |
| Companies say their final salary schemes are unsustainable as we all live longer and these schemes take up a disproportionate amount of costs. | |
| Workers say the pension deal that they signed up for when they took - and stayed loyal to - a job is being ignored. | Workers say the pension deal that they signed up for when they took - and stayed loyal to - a job is being ignored. |
| So what is the answer? | So what is the answer? |
| When asked, those on the picket line in Macclesfield say the dispute is "about our pensions". | When asked, those on the picket line in Macclesfield say the dispute is "about our pensions". |
| When pressed, they say the company should be sitting around a table and negotiating. The company says it has. | When pressed, they say the company should be sitting around a table and negotiating. The company says it has. |
| When quizzed on exactly what will get them back to work, they "can't quote numbers" but just want a deal their union representatives think is fair. | When quizzed on exactly what will get them back to work, they "can't quote numbers" but just want a deal their union representatives think is fair. |
| Meanwhile, in a statement, AstraZeneca says that striking is not in anyone's best interests. | Meanwhile, in a statement, AstraZeneca says that striking is not in anyone's best interests. |
| "The changes made ensure all employees continue to have access to pension arrangements that compare favourably to other organisations in the UK," it adds. | "The changes made ensure all employees continue to have access to pension arrangements that compare favourably to other organisations in the UK," it adds. |
| Proud | Proud |
| Standing with a placard on the latest of three recent strike dates, one woman's position appears typical. | Standing with a placard on the latest of three recent strike dates, one woman's position appears typical. |
| She says she cannot, and will not, give her name. | She says she cannot, and will not, give her name. |
| But having worked at the company for nearly 20 years, she is not too far from the company retirement age of 55. | But having worked at the company for nearly 20 years, she is not too far from the company retirement age of 55. |
| She loves her job, she says, adding she is proud of where she works. Now she wants a deal that is "as close to what I was going to get". | She loves her job, she says, adding she is proud of where she works. Now she wants a deal that is "as close to what I was going to get". |
| "You do not want to strike, but I am very disappointed in what the company has done," she says. | "You do not want to strike, but I am very disappointed in what the company has done," she says. |
| Drumming-up support | Drumming-up support |
| The AstraZeneca plant has been in Macclesfield for 50 years and this is the first strike action in that time. | The AstraZeneca plant has been in Macclesfield for 50 years and this is the first strike action in that time. |
| According to the GMB, about 300 workers have taken part in the action - consisting of three walkouts, each lasting four hours. | According to the GMB, about 300 workers have taken part in the action - consisting of three walkouts, each lasting four hours. |
| The drugs firm estimates there was a maximum of 250 who walked out on the earliest strike date, and 185 people striking on Thursday, among a workforce of 2,500. | The drugs firm estimates there was a maximum of 250 who walked out on the earliest strike date, and 185 people striking on Thursday, among a workforce of 2,500. |
| Among them is a long-serving employee who explains that the factory has been a massive boost to employment in Macclesfield. | Among them is a long-serving employee who explains that the factory has been a massive boost to employment in Macclesfield. |
| The plant is the company's second largest worldwide and makes the anti-cancer treatment Zoladex, used in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer. | The plant is the company's second largest worldwide and makes the anti-cancer treatment Zoladex, used in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer. |
| "We help save lives," he says. | "We help save lives," he says. |
| The man wants to stay. And while retirement might feel a long way away - he says he will stand shoulder to shoulder with workers, literally banging a drum for the best pension they can get. | The man wants to stay. And while retirement might feel a long way away - he says he will stand shoulder to shoulder with workers, literally banging a drum for the best pension they can get. |
| Behind him an electronic sign urges people to complete their annual employee survey. | Behind him an electronic sign urges people to complete their annual employee survey. |
| On the picket line - as the drum is banged and horns are blown - some workers' views on pensions are being played out clearly. | On the picket line - as the drum is banged and horns are blown - some workers' views on pensions are being played out clearly. |
| But a solution may be much tougher to compose. | But a solution may be much tougher to compose. |