Angry Beefeaters: Historic Royal Palaces staff may take to the picket lines after losing pension scheme

Beefeaters from the Tower of London will vote tomorrow on whether to strike for the first time in more than 50 years in a row over pension cuts.

The iconic guards, as well as Jewel House Wardens and other employees of Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) are set to lose their defined benefit pension schemes, and could be seen manning picket lines in the new year as a result.

HRP plans to replace the scheme with a defined contribution plan, which is cheaper to provide but more risky for employees.

Around 50 GMB union members who kept their defined benefit pension after it closed to new employees in 2002 will vote over a two week period, with potential strikes planned for January.

HRP is in charge of the Tower of London, Kew Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House and Kensington Palace.

The closure of the more expensive pension scheme comes despite HRP seeing its highest ever visitor numbers in 2017/18, with 4.733m visits, making up the lion’s share of £92.2m total income.

Mick Ainsley, GMB Regional Officer said members saw the defined benefit scheme as a “critical element of the employment package, and quite rightly put a great value on it”.

“HRP’s decision to close the scheme came as a great surprise. Difficulties or the ability to afford the pension had never been muted before and members just see this attack on their standard of living for the rest of their lives.

“The notion that buildings are more important than the dignity of workers and that the people caring for and responsible for these palaces are not worthy of being cared for in their retirement is quite frankly disgusting.”