AA patrols in the IDU Union have voted to take strike action following a ballot for action over plans to modify the AA pension scheme.

The AA has expressed disappointment in the result, calling the ballot premature.
Management said that a majority of patrols overall did not vote in favour of strike action as more than 400 patrolmen and women are not in the IDU.

The AA said in the event of any strike action, contingency plans would be in place to ensure a good breakdown service.

Management said the IDU is “jumping the gun”, by balloting AA patrols before the consultation into its pension plans ends on April 23.

The AA said it wants to keep its Defined Benefits scheme open. The AA is still consulting on details.

The AA pension scheme consists of two sections – a final salary section which closed to new members in 2005 and a Career Average (CARE) section which is open to new members of the pension scheme.

The proposals call for a control over the future pension costs, they also call on the company to increase its contributions by about 40% (from £13m to about £18m) and to clear the current deficit of some £190m.

“We would urge the union to think again,” said Andrew Strong, AA Services CEO. “When you look at problems that beset Readers Digest and many blue chip companies over their pension deficits we believe that the fact that we want to keep our defined benefit scheme open is good news. In the consultations most staff seem to accept the need for the company to make changes to the scheme and we think the majority of staff will support our proposals.”

The IDU said it is again urging the AA to re-open negotiations to resolve the current pension dispute.

“The IDU National Executive will now meet to decide on the date and nature of strike action to be taken if the AA continues to refuse to enter into meaningful negotiations,” it said.

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