Unite steps up campaign to safeguard jobs and pensions in Telent

Friday, 9th November 2007

Unite the Union representing the UK workforce of Telent, the surviving services entity of the former Marconi company, is today (9th November) stepping up its campaign to safeguard jobs and pensions.

This follows the announcement of the Pensions Regulator confirming its decision to appoint three independent trustees to the Telent Pension Scheme.

The UK’s largest union is sending a delegation, including Coventry and Lancashire MPs to meet Pensions Minister Mike O’Brien, next week to press for further safeguards to protect the jobs and pensions futures of the workforce.

The union is concerned that if the proposed sale to the Pensions Corporation proceeds, the telecoms services business will be sold off resulting in job losses and the pensions and escrow account assets amounting to nearly £4bn raided with the connivance of new pension trustees once the independent trustees term of office ceases.

Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer, said:

“Whilst we welcome the decision of the Pensions Regulator to confirm the appointment of independent pension trustees, we intend to do everything we can to block this sale unless we can obtain firm guarantees from Telent and the Pensions Corporation over job security, the future of the current Telent services business, and the assets of the pension scheme including the escrow account.

“We have been pressing for a meeting with the Pensions Corporation but so far they have declined to meet with us.”

Telent has 2000 UK employees including a large field force and major sites at Chorley, Coventry and London.