BEEFEATERS and staff of royal residencies will be downing tools next week in a pensions row, their unions announced yesterday.

PCS and GMB members at the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) will be out on Wednesday February 6, to stand against management attacks on their pension scheme.

HRP management has been attempting to move the staff onto a defined contribution scheme. However, workers claim this will leave them poorer and receiving less money in retirement than they were originally promised.

The workers at the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace already walked out in December, their first strike in 55 years.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This show of strength by HRP workers from both our union and the GMB will send a clear message to management that they must give their staff a decent pension in retirement.

“It is incumbent on HRP management to get round the table and negotiate properly with both unions to come to a fair deal.”