UNION bosses are warning civil servants and teachers that their prized pensions could be under threat - unless they fight back now.

Lancaster and Morecambe TUC claims that new Government proposals mean public sector workers will have to carry on working until they are 65.

For people who retire early except through ill health - will have to accept a reduced pension and pay off in future.

Government plans also includes moving away from final salary' pensions.

The rules will affect new employees from 2006 and will be extended to all five million public sector workers by 2013, says the TUC's Brian Penney.

"This is the latest cost cutting scam from the New Labour Government. It will mean a longer working life and a worsened pension entitlement for thousands of hard-working people in Lancaster, Morecambe and elsewhere in the country," he says.

Mr Penney, who is also a lay officer of the local branch of the National Union of Teachers, adds: "I spoke to both the local New Labour MPs, Hilton Dawson and Geraldine Smith and I have to say that they were both largely unsympathetic to the plight of public sector workers. They seem to believe that if people live longer they should work longer.

"I was representing the teaching profession at the lobby and I informed the MPs why teachers were so opposed to the Government's proposals.

"The final insult is to represent the chance to work on until you are 70 as some sort of opportunity just rubs salt into the wounds."

However, Ms Smith refuted suggestions she was unsympathetic and told the Citizen: "I have a great deal of sympathy for public sector workers and the problems they may be facing.

"There is an issue with public sector workers, especially those in their 40s who may have been planning early retirement.

"But there is also a problem facing the government with people living longer and we need to look at a solution suitable for all."

Ms Smith is also keen to ensurethat some public sector workers can retire earlier.

"I was at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders' Institute when a fight broke out," she says. "All the wardens were running to split it up.

"And I think in their case they cannot really be expected to tackle teenagers when they are approaching 65. I think they should be in the same bracket as police and be allowed early retirement."