AA staff balloted on strike over pensions

The GMB union said its members had reacted "adversely" to planned changes to their pension arrangements, which officials warned would affect payments.

National officer Paul Maloney said: "The AA wants to cap the amount that will count towards pensionable salary. Our members have reacted adversely to this proposal, which would severely dent their entitlement.

"The GMB is currently balloting our members for industrial action and we cannot rule out the first strike in the AA's 105-year history."

The Independent Democratic Union (IDU) also warned of a strike ballot among its members.

National officer Alistair Maclean said: "It is appalling that AA staff have worked flat out through the worst winter conditions in 30 years, only to then be told by the gluttonous private equity fat cats that they want to squeeze more blood out of the stone to line their own pockets.

"Despite the IDU's strenuous efforts to put forward reasonable alternatives to the company's original proposals, it would seem greed has outweighed the value those at the top of the organisation place on the future pension benefits of their staff."

An AA spokesman said: "We are in negotiations over some proposed pension changes. We have an excellent pension scheme within the AA at the moment. We are looking to retain that. The situation is changing for all companies and we have got to review how we fund it but we are absolutely intent on keeping our defined benefits scheme."