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.