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URGENT Pension Briefings for Branches on Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 January 2012
Pensions Dispute – URGENT
As you are no doubt aware, the negotiations on the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and the NHS Pension Scheme have reached critical stages. While the detail for each scheme varies, the position is similar in that UNISON is consulting its members on the future of the negotiations and whether we should call further action or proceed with negotiations on the basis proposed by the Government. No final scheme is on offer yet.
Branches will be sent the full details of the proposals under which further negotiations are to take place. Branches have been sent the NHS information and information is also on the website. Those branches covered by the LGPS have been sent a briefing on a possible proposal from the Local Government Association, which could see any changes, if agreed, being put back to 2014. At the time of writing this, we are still waiting for the Secretary of State to confirm the full details
On 10 January, the Executive for each service group will meet in London to decide whether to agree to continue with negotiations on the basis proposed, or whether to reject the Governments final position and move to significant and sustained strike action, on an even larger scale than November 30. To make this decision, those representatives need to hear your views. We will be holding a series of briefings in early January 2012, as follows:
Wednesday 4 January 2012
9.30am - 11.30am - UNISON House, Emperor Way, EXETER, EX1 3QS
1.00pm - 3.00pm - UNISON House, The Crescent, TAUNTON, TA1 4DU
4.30pm - 6.30pm - UNISON South West, 1st Floor Vintry House, Wine Street, BRISTOL, BS1 2BD
Friday 6 January 2012
12 - 2.00pm - The Corn Exchange, High East Street, DORCHESTER, Dorset, DT1 1HF
Branches can send up to three people each and should ensure that as many relevant employers are represented as possible.
Branches need to confirm attendance by contacting Chris Murrell at c.murrell@unison.co.uk of 01823 285318.
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19 December - Pension discussisons still ongoing
Message from Joanne Kaye, UNISON South West Regional Secretary
Dear Colleagues
I am aware rumours have been circulating about a possible deal in LGPS negotiations and I am attaching the following statement for information. I have sent this to all branches, although it only affects those members of the LGPS scheme.
The statement makes clear that NO deal has been reached, but that discussions have taken place on a framework for negotiations starting in January and potentially deferring any changes arising from those negotiations until 2014.
Please ensure all affected members get a copy of this statement. We are also to arrange briefings for branches on 6 January, across all four Regional Offices.
Joanne Kaye
Regional Secretary, UNISON South West
Statement: Message from the Joint Trade Union Side Secretaries on the Development of the LGPS (pdf document)
1 December - What a day yesterday!
Yesterday, Wednesday 30 November, saw the biggest strike in the UK for a generation as members from UNISON and other public sector unions joining forces on picket lines, marches and rallies throughout the South West.
Despite Cameron's claim that yesterday's events was a 'damp squib', we all know different , don't we. There was a massive turnout across the South West, the biggest ever seen - and what a day it was. Everyone should be thoroughly proud of themselves for standing up and taking part and staying away from work and fighting for a decent pension.
Keep your photos and reports coming in - send them to:-
unisonsw@unison.co.uk (please add location/ event details), on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/unisonsw or on Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/UNISONSW
Click here to see some of your photos. More photos coming soon ..
25 October - High Court challenge to public sector pensions
UNISON along with five other trade unions launched a legal challenge on behalf of millions of public sector workers of which inflation index is usd to increase their pensions. The switch to using the consumer price index (CPI) instead of the traditionally-higher retail price index (RPI) for the annual increase in public sector pensions, could reduce the value of cost pensioners as much as 15%. The switch has also been applied to many private sector pensions, wiping an estimated £75 billion off their value. This affects private pension schemes as well as public sector! Find out more here.
Don't just sit back and see your pension value decrease. You can take action against this today ...
- you can sign the e-petition (it doesn't close until 8 May 2012), or
- you can e-mail your MP and ask them to sign the Early Day Motion against the switch, or
- you can become a pension champion or pensions contact, or
- if you haven't already done so, vote YES in the pension ballot before 3 November. If you've not received your ballot paper, call 0845 355 0845 to request your ballot paper right away.
13 October - Dave Prentis says Don't give into bullying - Vote 'Yes' in pension's ballot
At a Police and Justice Conference today, 13 October, Dave Prentis will say that the union will not stand for Government Ministers' damaging pension's plans, or employers' bullying tactics over strike action. Read what he says in more detail here.
11 October - ballot for industrial action over pension opens
On Tuesday 11 October, the ballot for industrial action over pensions opens. Ballot papers will start arriving at members' homes asking them to vote yes in the biggest insdustrial acton for 80 years to protect their pensions and their future. Roger Craegh-Osborne, a UNISON South West member, said that his public sector pension is not gold-plated, and that the public sector pension he's getting now is worse than any private pension scheme he ever belonged to. Read more here.
6 October - Pension roadshow takes place in Dorset
On Thursday 6 October, the South West region has its final pension roadshow to kick off the vote yes campaign as part of the wider pensions campaign in the UNISON office in Wareham, Dorset, where UNISON Branches in Dorset can find out more about the Yes vote. The roadshow starts at 4pm. Branches, pension champions and contacts are asked to arrive by 2.30pm for an hour long pension training session will peceed the roadshow. This session will enable activists to able to arm themselves with the knowledge needed to fight the changes to the pension scheme and pass on that knowledge on to their activists and members.
28 September - campign roadshows
The South West region has organised a series of roadshows to kick off the vote yes as part of the pensions campaign. Roger McKenzie, UNISON Assistant General Secretary, is heading to the region to take part in the roadshows. Follow these links to out about the roadshows and the Yes vote.
30 June 2011 - Day of Action
The Day of Action on Thursday 30 June was a great success - you too may have been involved. Four of our sister Trade Unions took strike action (NUT, ATL, PCS and UCU), closing many schools and affecting job centres and government offices. Picket lines could be seen across the region, and many many of those on strike - and their families - attended rallies, picnics, speeches and festivals arranged specially.
Many of our members and officials supported the Day of Action too - turning up and providing coffee at picket lines, speaking at events and rallies, and ensuring they did only their own jobs and didn't cover the work of strikers in offices and schools.
Did you take part? Let us have your news and views!
17 June 2011
Danny Alexander has been busy today (17 June) on behalf of the Government publicising their latest proposals (despite the negotiations which are of course ongoing).
For details and commentary see (there are various other links alongside these articles too):
UNISON responded:
Commenting on Danny Alexander's announcements on public sector pensions, Karen Jennings, UNISON Assistant General Secretary, said:
"It's a real shame that Danny Alexander has seen fit to make these inflammatory announcements through the media, while we are still in the middle of detailed negotiations with the Government. Many public sector workers do very physically demanding jobs – expecting paramedics to carry patients into an ambulance at 66, 67 or even 68 is a danger to themselves and patients. And the same is true for nurses, midwives, bin men, road cleaners and many more. We want public sector pension schemes to be fair, affordable and sustainable which is why they were renegotiated only a few years ago.
"Taking the low paid out of the pensions' increase is nothing but sugar-coating, and those on modest wages will have to pay more. The vast majority of low paid workers in the NHS and Local Government, who have been contracted out, are going to lose their pension rights because the Government plans to abolish the Fair Deal.
"This attack on public sector pensions has nothing to do with a pensions' deficit and everything to do with making public sector workers pay to clean up the financial mess left by the city bankers."
Got thoughts to share or concerns to raise? Email us at pensionssw@unison.co.uk now!