Local Government pensions framework to go ahead
A timeline and set of principles that provide a positive framework for negotiations on the local government pension scheme (LGPS), is back on track, said UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, today. The move follows the withdrawal of a letter from Secretary of State, Eric Pickles and the issuing of a new letter, which the union says provides the basis to proceed to negotiations. Following lengthy talks, the principles have been jointly agreed by the Local Government Association (LGA), UNISON and the GMB.The framework will be subject to detailed discussions with UNISON’s senior local government members in the new year. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “We are pleased that the agreement on principles and a timeline for more talks on the local government pensions scheme, are back on track. They have the green light from government, marking a major step forward in the dispute over public sector pensions. “We have always argued that as the local government scheme has funds worth more than £140 billion, it should be dealt with in a different way to the other Treasury backed schemes. “Following discussions with senior members in local government we hope to move towards detailed negotiations in 2012, where we can work out the very complex details of the new pension scheme.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
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 We understand the Secretary of State’s response has subsequently been withdrawn.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.”
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.”
Friday, December 16, 2011
Warning bells should sound in Westminster
Commenting on today’s unemployment figures, showing a rise to 2.64m between August and October, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“This is a seriously bleak midwinter, as 128,000 more workers join the millions already on the dole queues. “Every month, as unemployment rises, and figures hit a 17 year high, the Government continues to ignore the human cost and push ahead with its hard and fast cuts – clinging to the hope that a struggling private sector can pick up the pieces. “These figures deliver a cold hard dose of reality. Private sector employment has increased by only 5,000, while the public sector has been hit with 67,000 job cuts – a huge gulf that the Government will fail to fill. As Thomas Cook looks likely to shed more than 600 jobs and la Senza become the latest retailer to face a restructuring, it is obvious that the worst is yet to come.“It is shameful to see that yet again, women, who make up the majority of low paid public sector workers, are the hardest hit by job losses. The 54,000 increase in youth unemployment shows that young people are also bearing the brunt, creating a lost generation that the Government will struggle to curb.“Unemployment hit similar highs before – when the Tories were in power. Warning bells should be sounding in Westminster this Christmas. We need urgent action to kick start the economy and prevent a new year unemployment record.”
Commenting on today’s unemployment figures, showing a rise to 2.64m between August and October, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“This is a seriously bleak midwinter, as 128,000 more workers join the millions already on the dole queues. “Every month, as unemployment rises, and figures hit a 17 year high, the Government continues to ignore the human cost and push ahead with its hard and fast cuts – clinging to the hope that a struggling private sector can pick up the pieces. “These figures deliver a cold hard dose of reality. Private sector employment has increased by only 5,000, while the public sector has been hit with 67,000 job cuts – a huge gulf that the Government will fail to fill. As Thomas Cook looks likely to shed more than 600 jobs and la Senza become the latest retailer to face a restructuring, it is obvious that the worst is yet to come.“It is shameful to see that yet again, women, who make up the majority of low paid public sector workers, are the hardest hit by job losses. The 54,000 increase in youth unemployment shows that young people are also bearing the brunt, creating a lost generation that the Government will struggle to curb.“Unemployment hit similar highs before – when the Tories were in power. Warning bells should be sounding in Westminster this Christmas. We need urgent action to kick start the economy and prevent a new year unemployment record.”
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Damning report reveals real picture of council cuts
UNISON is calling for the Government to refocus on local government services and finances, in light of a damning report* on council cuts by the Audit Commission and Local Government Association* (LGA). The report shows that councils across England have already made 145,000 job cuts and the number is set to spiral. This will have a devastating impact on the lives of local government workers and communities relying on the vital services they provide.UNISON Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:“The Government must refocus on providing funding to make sure vital local services are maintained, rather than stripped bare. Councils have already made far more job cuts than they said would be necessary. This report shows that the worst is yet to come.“UNISON members have been hit hard, as they struggle to pay bills in the face rising costs. Council workers are covering large numbers of deleted and frozen posts - on a two-year pay freeze, without the £250 compensation promised by Osborne for the lowest paid. Workers are doing more, for less, as resources drop, but demand rises. On top of this, they face cuts to pay and conditions, alongside plans to make them pay more into their pensions, work longer and receive less in retirement. “Teaching assistants, youth workers and social care workers are among the groups facing the largest cuts - despite record youth unemployment and an ageing population. Low paid women are the biggest losers, as they make up 75% of council workers and 90% of the occupations worst hit.“It is disgraceful to hear the Tory-led LGA boasting of having made 50% more savings than required by central government, even before the financial crash. The latest redundancies come on top of these huge, unnecessary cuts. These job cuts are not inevitable, there is an alternative and councils have a duty to their local communities to provide hope and employment to help people get through this financial crisis.“The report paints of a picture of a bleak future, where skilled staff lose their jobs, or are left buckling under the pressure with vital services being stripped back. These council cuts are hard, fast and unnecessary and will devastate communities when what the country needs are policies that will help to kick start the economy.”
UNISON is calling for the Government to refocus on local government services and finances, in light of a damning report* on council cuts by the Audit Commission and Local Government Association* (LGA). The report shows that councils across England have already made 145,000 job cuts and the number is set to spiral. This will have a devastating impact on the lives of local government workers and communities relying on the vital services they provide.UNISON Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:“The Government must refocus on providing funding to make sure vital local services are maintained, rather than stripped bare. Councils have already made far more job cuts than they said would be necessary. This report shows that the worst is yet to come.“UNISON members have been hit hard, as they struggle to pay bills in the face rising costs. Council workers are covering large numbers of deleted and frozen posts - on a two-year pay freeze, without the £250 compensation promised by Osborne for the lowest paid. Workers are doing more, for less, as resources drop, but demand rises. On top of this, they face cuts to pay and conditions, alongside plans to make them pay more into their pensions, work longer and receive less in retirement. “Teaching assistants, youth workers and social care workers are among the groups facing the largest cuts - despite record youth unemployment and an ageing population. Low paid women are the biggest losers, as they make up 75% of council workers and 90% of the occupations worst hit.“It is disgraceful to hear the Tory-led LGA boasting of having made 50% more savings than required by central government, even before the financial crash. The latest redundancies come on top of these huge, unnecessary cuts. These job cuts are not inevitable, there is an alternative and councils have a duty to their local communities to provide hope and employment to help people get through this financial crisis.“The report paints of a picture of a bleak future, where skilled staff lose their jobs, or are left buckling under the pressure with vital services being stripped back. These council cuts are hard, fast and unnecessary and will devastate communities when what the country needs are policies that will help to kick start the economy.”
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Fuel poverty rises by a quarter
Commenting on new Consumer Focus figures, which show that fuel poverty is now hitting a quarter of all UK households, Mike Jeram, UNISON’s head of business and environment, said:“As winter draws near, a quarter of all households are being forced to make the choice between heating and eating. “According the national office of statistics, there were 25,700 deaths relating to fuel poverty in 2010-11, this is shameful. And sadly is likely to rise in line with the fuel poverty figure increase.“Just recently the big energy companies hiked up their prices, pushing ahead with profits in mind, while throwing more people into fuel poverty. Public sector workers facing pay freezes and job cuts, cannot cope with these rising fuel prices. “The Government has yet again made false promises, as it looks likely to fail its legal duty to end fuel poverty by 2016. “The Government is pushing people further into poverty with its austerity agenda. It should be concentrating on getting the economy back on track and protecting people from unsustainable prices.”
Commenting on new Consumer Focus figures, which show that fuel poverty is now hitting a quarter of all UK households, Mike Jeram, UNISON’s head of business and environment, said:“As winter draws near, a quarter of all households are being forced to make the choice between heating and eating. “According the national office of statistics, there were 25,700 deaths relating to fuel poverty in 2010-11, this is shameful. And sadly is likely to rise in line with the fuel poverty figure increase.“Just recently the big energy companies hiked up their prices, pushing ahead with profits in mind, while throwing more people into fuel poverty. Public sector workers facing pay freezes and job cuts, cannot cope with these rising fuel prices. “The Government has yet again made false promises, as it looks likely to fail its legal duty to end fuel poverty by 2016. “The Government is pushing people further into poverty with its austerity agenda. It should be concentrating on getting the economy back on track and protecting people from unsustainable prices.”
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