Local Government Chronicle are reporting this:

Unite returns to pension talks

30 January, 2012 | By Ruth Keeling

Unite is set to return to pension reform talks in time for key decisions on a number of “big ticket” items such as the overall cost of the scheme.

The negotiations over changes to the local government pension scheme are scheduled to produce final proposals on the accrual, revaluation, contribution rates and retirement ages next week.

They will also decide whether the local government pension scheme will continue to be final salary or move to a career average earnings model.

Unite’s local government executive committee met last week and decided it should rejoin the talks which it abandoned following a row with ministers over the wording of a letter sent before Christmas.

Peter Allenson, Unite’s national officer for local government, said he would rejoin the negotiations “as soon as possible”, perhaps even in time for a meeting on Monday afternoon, in order to be involved in the first set of important decisions.

“The committee took the view that we should be in there influencing things,” he said.

Unite withdrew from the negotiations process after a letter from communities secretary Eric Pickles appeared to place limitations on the unions and employer negotiations, including a cost limit not agreed with unions.

Although the letter was immediately withdrawn, resulting in GMB and Unison returning to the negotiating process, Unite said they had lost confidence in the process and claimed the government had revealed its hidden agenda.

Negotiators for GMB, Unison and the LGA representing employers have been very keen for Unite to rejoin the talks ahead of the first set of big decisions about the new-look scheme.

Last week, GMB national secretary for public services Brian Strutton told LGC he was hoping Unite’s local government committee would agree a return to talks “otherwise we are going to run out of time and they will have missed the boat”.

27January 2012                                                                 LGPS Issue no. 12

NEGOTIATIONS ON THE LGPS BEGIN IN EARNEST

 

The project plan and ongoing documents for the joint trade union and LGA LGPS Project Team and Project Board will all be made public. They are available at http://www.lgps.org.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=15431012.

 

The LGPS members’ website (www.lgps.org.uk) will host all of the documentation and communications for the Project as it progresses. There will also be regular joint communications and the first of these is attached.

 

What happens next?

 

The weekly talks will continue until April. A lay member group comprised of representatives of each of the LGPS Service Groups is planned to support and advise the negotiators.

 

There will be regular communication with members and pension contacts through SGE’s and sector committees, this newsletter, the web site and regional forums and committees. It is important that activists and pension contacts talk to members – and non-members – about the negotiations and continue to recruit to UNISON.

 

Carry on organising!

 

Although we have a positive framework for the negotiations, they are just beginning and we need to show the government and the LGA that we are still angry, are still in dispute and expect a positive outcome for our members. We will be asking sympathetic MP’s and councillors to keep up the pressure in Parliament and within the LGA.

 

We will also be making links between our pay and cuts campaigns and the LGPS. Less pay means less ability to pay for pensions and fewer jobs means reduced costs for employers, so there is a clear link.

 

There is still a massive opportunity to organise and recruit members and stewards to UNISON. We need more and more members to show the employers that we have got the industrial strength to resist attacks on pensions, pay, jobs and conditions. So carry on organising!  Contact your Branch, unison@wokingham.gov.uk  or Indira Patel, i.patel@unison.co.uk if you would like to be a UNISON pension contact or steward.

 

 

NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME 2014

 

Joint communications update

 

This update has been produced by the Local Government Association (LGA), UNISON and GMB in order to keep members up to date with the progress against the joint principles document published just before Christmas.

 

Although this communication will be published at least monthly the unions and LGA will still continue to produce their own communications ensuring that all are kept as informed as possible of the process.

 

Firstly a couple of definitions so we all know what is meant:

 

The Principles Document – this is the document headed EMPLOYER AND UNION AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE LGPS a copy of which can be found on the LGPS website by following this link: http://www.lgps.org.uk/lge/aio/15431141

 

The New LGPS 2014 project – this is the project by which agreement will be reached on the elements to make up the new scheme and the mechanisms for management and governance of the scheme in the future. The documentation relating to the project including the Plan, PID and Risk Register can be found by following this link: http://www.lgps.org.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=15431012

 

The LGPS members website (www.lgps.org.uk) will host all of the documentation and communications for the project as it progresses.

 

Update on progress

 

Representatives of GMB, UNISON, LGA and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) are now meeting at least weekly in order to discuss options for the new scheme.

 

They are aiming to reach agreement (which will include full consultation with their respective memberships) by April on the following objectives (which are taken from the Principles document):

 

Objective 1: Confirmation of the basis of the scheme design (e.g. CARE)

 

Objective 2: Confirmation of the accrual rate for the scheme

 

Objective 3: Confirmation of the revaluation rate

 

Objective 4: Confirmation of the actuarial methodology for variation to benefits either side of the NPA (with the NPA being the later of age 65 or SPA)

 

Objective 5: Confirmation of the value, distribution and phasing of any employee contribution increases

 

Objective 6: Confirmation of the transitional protections

 

Objective 7: Confirmation of the parameters of the employer cap and collar

 

Objective 8: Confirmation of the mechanism for variation of the elements to maintain scheme costs within the cap and collar values

 

Objective 9: Agree recommendations on best practice in governance and procurement

 

Objective 10: Confirmation of the value of the ongoing scheme [principle 11] as measured using model fund data, assumptions and methodology [principle 4] which satisfies overall government financial constraints [principle 2]

 

The timescales for reaching agreement on each can be found in the project plan and PID. It is vital that these timescales are met in order that new regulations can be in place in time for the 2013 valuation. If not then the opportunity to roll the two stage process of reform into one step will have been lost.

 

Currently the project is gathering data in order to inform the discussions around the various options for the scheme including commissioning actuaries and setting up working groups.

 

Remember that whilst the project continues no changes will be made to the scheme which is, and will continue to be after the project is complete, one of the best ways available to ensure a decent income in retirement.

This is the full text of the Local Government Pension Scheme motion agreed by the Local Government Service Group Executive on 10 January 2012.

“This SGE applauds the action taken by UNISON members and other public service trade unions on 30 November 2011 to force the government into serious negotiations over public sector pensions. We also note that the results of UNISON’s ballot resulted in the improved Reference scheme/offer from the government.

This SGE notes that the action has given rise to the potential for detailed LGPS negotiations directly between the unions and the Local Government Association (LGA) which recognise the unique features of the LGPS and its membership.

We also note that those negotiations would take place on the basis of no change until 2014 and suspension of the formal DCLG consultation over employee contribution increases and accrual rates, the outcome of which will otherwise be implemented on 1 April 2012.

This SGE recognises that UNISON is still in dispute with the government and employers and that our ballot results are still ‘live’.

This SGE agrees:

1.To enter into detailed negotiations with the LGA to further pursue our campaign objectives

2. To reserve our position on the detail of the LGPS principles and timetable until firm proposals emerge from the negotiations

3. To ensure lay member involvement directly in those negotiations

4. To establish a cross-Service Group lay member liaison group to support the negotiations comprised of Chairs and Vice Chairs or their nominees

 5. To ensure that regular consultation and communication take place throughout the negotiations with this SGE, other SGEs covered by the LGPS, Regions, branches and members

 6.  To continue and intensify our campaigning activity to strengthen our hand in the negotiations, including informed and widespread lobbying of MPs and councillors and activities to highlight the impact of any changes to the LGPS on the standard of living of our members

7. To hold an all-member ballot of our members on any final package of proposals on the ‘Big Ticket’ items that would make up the design of the new scheme

 8. That industrial action remains an option if negotiations fail”

 Visit the Local Government page on the UNISON’s Regional Website – http://www.unison.org.uk/southeast/localgov.asp

Dear UNISON members,

The message below, dated 20th December 2011,
follows the update released by UNISON on Monday 19th December which is
also attached for your information.  Local government trade unions
suspend agreement pending further talks
The local government trade unions, UNISON, UNITE and GMB, have today
been alarmed by the response from Eric Pickles, to the joint proposal
from the unions and the Local Government Association (LGA), for
reforming the local government pension scheme.

We understand the Secretary of State’s response has subsequently been
withdrawn. In light of this confusion, we therefore suspend our
agreement, and are now seeking an urgent meeting with the government to
establish an agreed way forward.

Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said:

“The announcement today from Eric Pickles undermines trust and
confidence in the relationship with the government over negotiations
surrounding the Local Government pensions scheme.

“In order to re-establish confidence, and a way forward, we hope that
ministers will meet us as a matter of great urgency in order to get
negotiations back on track.

“We are disappointed that a positive way forward appears to have been
undermined in this way, and hope that government, the LGA, and the
trade unions, can reach agreement on a way forward.”

Regards,

Stephanie Maxwell
UNISON Branch Secretary

 

This week, the pensions talks go on. And UNISON will be working hard to make sure we protect your pensions and reach a fair deal in those talks.

The next couple of weeks before Christmas are a critical time for the talks. The deadlines are tight – so we want the government to negotiate seriously too.

Despite what some of the media may say, there is still no offer on the table we can put to a single public sector worker.

But our strike galvanised members, boosted recruitment, showing government ministers that we mean business.

I know that everyone is busy in the run-up to Christmas, but we still need your help getting our message out there on pensions.

Keep on talking to friends and neighbours, write to your local MP and newspapers putting across your point of view.

Dear UNISON members,

 

I would like to thank all of our members who added their weight to the Pensions Campaign by taking industrial action.  It is acknowledged that striking is a difficult thing to do and is not something that any of us do lightly.  I was particularly proud of the number of people who turned up to picket at our civic offices to show their support and commitment, it was very much appreciated.  The march in Reading was a fantastic experience and again I would like to say thank you to people who took part.  It certainly was not a ‘damp squib’ and it showed there is a huge amount of support for the cause, not everyone is as ill informed as Jeremy Clarkson……

 

Kind regards,

 

Stephanie Maxwell

UNISON Branch Secretary

Today you made history. Every single UNISON member supporting the day of action has played their part in this fantastic day.

UNISON members – mostly women, many low-paid and many taking strike action for the first time ever – stood up and said, with quiet resolve: enough is enough.

Our members work every day of every year to provide the services our communities rely on. Many work behind the scenes in schools, hospitals, town halls, libraries and a thousand other workplaces unseen by the media and politicians.

But today they made their presence felt and their voices heard throughout the UK.

They told politicians that they would not stand by and see their pensions attacked and undermined and they would not be made to pay for the crisis caused by speculators and bankers.

A historic day indeed. A day which must make the government think again and negotiate a fair deal on pensions for our members.

A great day for UNISON and my proudest day as your general secretary.

 

The focal point of the day of action on the 30^th November will be the March and Rally organised by the Reading Trades Council.

 

Members of UNISON along with many other unions will be demonstrating together against these unjust attacks on our pensions.

 

UNISON is asking all members to give full support to this.

 

Pre March Briefing

Reading Irish Club Chatham Street 11.30am

Refreshments Available

 

March

Assemble outside Reading Civic Centre RG1 7AE

 12.15pm

 

Rally

Forbury Gardens, Reading RG1 3EH

 1.30pm

 

Reading UNISON Branch Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reading-Borough-Unison/238224672892150

 

 Reading TUC Facebook event page

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140930052680330

 

Letters from UNISON arrived at 9,491 employers today (18 November), laying out plans for members to strike to protect public sector pensions.

The UK’s largest union received a decisive ‘Yes’ vote after balloting 1.1m members over Government ministers’ proposals to make workers pay more and work longer, for less pension.

The letter is a notice to employers of the union’s plan to call to action members from the organisation to take part in discontinuous industrial action from 30 November. Care workers, bin men, nurses, PCSO’s and teaching assistants will be among those striking on the TUC Day of Action on 30th November.

UNISON’s General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“Employers will have received our letters laying out plans for workers to take action on the 30th. After a resounding ‘yes’ vote in our ballot, the letters are the next step towards the largest strike in living memory. We will continue to negotiate anywhere, anytime, up to and beyond the Day of Action. But we still don’t have firm offers in the local government, or the health pension schemes, that we can put to our members.

“UNISON’s members are mainly low paid women in caring roles, who are already being hit by job and service cuts and the rising cost of living. These members are not taking action lightly, they do not want to lose a day’s pay, but they have been pushed to the brink and are bearing the brunt of the bankers’ recession.

“There is still time to reach a deal – it is down to Government ministers and the employers to put firm offers on the table.”

Ends

For more information please contact the UNISON Press Office on 0207 1215 255

Notes to editors:

Separating the pensions facts from the fiction:

If closed today the LGPS could still pay all its liabilities for 20 years.

The Treasury gets £2bn more in NHS pension contributions than it pays out in benefits.

The average Local Government pension is £4,000 pa – hardly gold plated.

The average NHS pension is £7,000 per annum – again hardly gold plated. Half of NHS women pensioners receive less than £3,500 per annum.

The average pension for bosses of Britain’s largest companies is 34 times bigger than the average public sector pension.

 

 

Coalition Cuts Newsletter 26                                        

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