Westminster protest at Rolls Royce pension robbery

London, October 27 -- - Photo Call

There will be a photo opportunity with Rolls Royce workers carrying placards on College Green, outside the Houses of Parliament between 11.00am and 12.00pm on Tuesday 28th October.

Workers and Rolls Royce pensioners from around the UK will be protesting outside Westminster as part of a campaign to stop Rolls Royce cutting up to 20% of pension benefits.

Amicus members are also conducting a strike ballot in response to the plans which will also claw back earned benefits from existing pensioners.

Unions shop stewards will be briefing groups of MPs at the House of Commons immediately before Rolls Royce annual parliamentary business presentation.

The union will be outlining their unhappiness at the lack of priority given to information and consultation over the pension scheme by a company noted for its fear of shareholder criticism.

The company has rejected union proposals including increased contributions and instead are pushing their own raft of proposals which will mean up to 20% less value of their individual employees pensions.

18,000 employees and 40,000 Rolls Royce pensioners will be affected by the move.

Glen Johnson, Amicus Regional Officer, said:

"Pensions are not company patronage. They are deferred earnings and should be treated as such. It is unfair to penalise existing pensioners and ask them to fund a problem of the companies own making".

"Rolls Royce has £19bn worth of orders on its books so there is time to find a reasonable solution before the work force ends up out on strike."

For information contact Lee Whitehill +44 0 7768 693950.