SCORES of workers put up a united front against public service pension cutbacks, as unions joined forces to stage a day of protest in York.

Council, health, transport and communication workers stood with pensioners and students outside the Guildhall yesterday to drive home the message that people want to retire "in dignity, not poverty".

The protest was part of a national campaign against Government plans to increase the retirement age for thousands of public service workers to 65, and raise the minimum age at which a pension can be paid, except for ill health, from 50 to 55.

It came a day after union leaders and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott failed to resolve the row in last-ditch talks. Banners proclaiming Fair Pensions For All and Where Is The Care In Blair? were held high as union leaders called for support of ballots on strike action.

Ben Drake, of York Unison, warned that up to 1.5 million workers could be going on strike before the General Election. He said: "It is disgraceful that a Labour government is cutting pension provisions for hard-working people who have all paid into these pensions in good faith."

A former Sheriff of York, 78-year-old Les Marsh, of the T&GW union (retired members), said: "We are concerned for the younger age group. We all have children and grandchildren and want to make sure they are sorted when they reach our age. It is essential the Government carries on a good pension scheme."

Tracy Walker, of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said there was an "incredible" strength of feeling about the cuts following recent civil service job cuts.

Alan Schofield, spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minster, said: "Local government employers and unions are in talks. There's a lot of goodwill around the table.

"This is a long-term issue and we are working to find a solution to it."

Updated: 09:29 Saturday, February 19, 2005