Thousands of government-employed lawyers - including many crown prosecutors - are being urged by their union to down tools over plans to limit pensions, it emerged this week.

The First Division Association (FDA), which represents some 2,000 lawyers working across the government, most of whom are within the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), is balloting its members over a half-day strike on 23 March. However, the subject of the ballot is open-ended, so that members will automatically authorise further action by voting 'yes'.


The FDA's main gripe concerns government proposals to raise the pension age from 60 to 65 for existing scheme members from 2013. It has complained that lawyers working within the system should not be forced to retire five years later, but also argues that employees are currently shown the door at 60 without any choice.


The government has complained that public sector pensions are now costing some £690 billion, a rise of almost one-fifth in the last year.


The FDA said: 'We would welcome dialogue with the government on how to ensure that the pension system is sustainable and affordable. However, we are being offered diktat and not debate.'


Criminal Law Solicitors Association director Rodney Warren backed the action. 'We are proud to have among our members many CPS solicitors, and we would be concerned for them over any negative change in their conditions of employment,' he said. 'The government has clearly paid a great deal of attention to others in the criminal justice system - but it rarely pays attention to solicitors, who do a very valuable job.'


Richard Miller, director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, agreed: 'The government is playing a dangerous game in upsetting lawyers in all parts of the criminal justice system.'


A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said it was discussing the matter with unions but believed the plans would make pensions fairer and more sustainable.


A CPS spokeswoman said it would make every effort to ensure that it was business as usual in the event of strikes.



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