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New local government pensions proposals released


The Local Government Association (LGA) and trade unions have today announced the outcome of their negotiations on new LGPS proposals (for England and Wales) to take effect from 1st April 2014.






These proposals will now be communicated to scheme members, employers, funds and other scheme interests. Unions will consult their members over these proposals and the LGA will consult employers. The government has confirmed that a favourable outcome of our consultations will enable them to move directly to a statutory consultation later in the Autumn to implement these proposals.






The main provisions of the proposed LGPS 2014 are:






1 A Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme using CPI as the revaluation factor (the current scheme is a final salary scheme).






2 The accrual rate would be 1/49th (the current scheme is 1/60th).






3 There would be no normal scheme pension age, instead each member’s Normal Pension Age (NPA) would be their State Pension Age (the current scheme has an NPA of 65).






4 Average member contributions to the scheme would be 6.5% (same as the current scheme) with the rate determined on actual pay (the current scheme determines part-time contribution rates on full time equivalent pay). While there would be no change to average member contributions, the lowest paid would pay the same or less and the highest paid would pay higher contributions on a more progressive scale after tax relief.






5 Members who have already or are considering opting out of the scheme could instead elect to pay half contributions for half the pension, while still retaining the full value of other benefits. This is known as the 50/50 option (the current scheme has no such flexible option).






6 For current scheme members, benefits for service prior to 1st April are protected, including remaining ‘Rule of 85’ protection. Protected past service continues to be based on final salary and current NPA.






7 Where scheme members are outsourced they will be able to stay in the scheme on first and subsequent transfers (currently this is a choice for the new employer).






All other terms remain as in the current scheme. Future scheme costs will be monitored and controlled to ensure stability and affordability of the LGPS. Further details on cost management and scheme governance will be released once the ongoing discussions in the next part of the LGPS 2014 project are complete.






Heather Wakefield, UNISON National Secretary Local Government, Police and Justice Section said:






“The negotiations over LGPS 2014 have been long and tough and have taken place in a demanding political and economic climate. The process has shown that UNISON, the LGA and the other local government unions can work productively together in the best interests of LGPS members and potential members.






LGPS 2014 is a sustainable, defined benefit scheme, which is designed to protect existing members and be affordable for the low paid and part-time workers who are its majority. Under exacting circumstances, we have achieved the best possible outcome.”






Full details available here -
www.unison.org.uk/pensions/lgps.asp

21/05/2012


National demonstration date set for 20 October

Across the country, UNISON members will today start months of planning for a mass demonstration against the government’s failed politics of austerity, set to take place in London on Saturday 20 October 2012.






Tens of thousands of UNISON members will make the journey to the capital to march under the heading, “A Future That Works” to show their opposition to the government’s pro-austerity, anti-growth policies. The march will end with a rally in Hyde Park.






Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said:






“In October, a sea of purple and green will make its way through London’s streets. But it will not just be UNISON members who take to their feet. All across the country, people are learning the hard way that cuts are not the cure.






“Millions are unemployed, with women and young people hit hardest. Growth has stalled and we are back in recession – austerity is standing in the way of delivering the jobs and growth our country needs. Our march in October will send the government a strong message that we don’t just want an alternative economic plan – we want a future that works.”

THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN !!

So-called Taxpayers' Aliiance wrong again on pensions

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the so-called Taxpayers’ Alliance to get its facts straight on local government pensions.The low tax pressure group is once again attacking the local government pension scheme that allows low paid public service workers to save for their retirement. It is wrongly arguing that £1 in every £5 of council tax goes towards local government pensions. The actual figure is just 5p in every £1 paid in council tax, because council tax makes up just 25% of a council’s overall funding. The remaining 75% comes from other sources such as business rates and central government funding. The group also misses the point of pensions when it manipulates the figures to claim that the local government pension scheme faces a ‘black hole’. In comparing liabilities to assets, it is deliberately making a ridiculous assumption that everyone will retire on the same day. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “The so-called Taxpayers’ Alliance should stop attacking the pension rights of low paid public service workers such as dinner ladies and bin men, and concentrate on getting its facts straight. “Back in reality, the local government pension scheme is a sustainable and affordable way of helping low paid workers to save for their retirement. Without the scheme, the taxpayer would be left holding a multi billion pound means tested benefits bill. “It is pure fantasy to claim that there is a ‘black hole’ as if everyone in the scheme will retire on the same day. Any actuary worth their salt will confirm that with pensions it is vital to take a long-term view. “Let’s not forget that the average pension in local government is not at all gold plated. It is just £4,000 a year, dropping to just £2,600 for women.”

Sad day as Suffolk NHS services are sold off

UNISON has reacted angrily and expressed disappointment that Suffolk’s much respected community services will now be run by a private company, Serco. This follows the announcement earlier today that the private company has been selected as the preferred bidder and will take over from existing NHS services, which provide specialist and community nursing, children's services, speech and language therapy and other much valued community services. Tracey Lambert, UNISON Eastern region’s Head of Health, said:“It’s an extremely sad day for the people in Suffolk and NHS staff who’ll see their community service sold off in this way. “The Trust has always been recognised for delivering good quality integrated services, there is no reason for it to be hived off. Crucially Serco may have experience of managing hotel services for hospitals, but they do not have a proven track record in the provision of medical care. We would be hard pressed to know what Serco could possibly add to existing patient care and services. “There is no evidence to show that they will improve patient care or provide better health services. In fact the SHA is gambling with people's health by awarding contract to company with no experience in running the full range of primary health services.“This is an ideological move, purely to save money. Yes, they will have a duty to provide patients with care when and where they need it, but let’s not forget this is a private profit driven organisation; its sole purpose is to make money for shareholders. It’s inevitable that there will be cuts in order to ensure those shareholders’ pockets are being lined. “With the Government passing the much maligned Health and Social Care Bill earlier this week, this is likely to be a bitter taste of things to come. This is taking the ‘National’ out of the NHS and putting tax payers’ money into individual pockets. This contract is worth an estimated £140m. The question UNISON wants answered is just how much of that will be ploughed back into patient care and improving services and how much will go directly to Serco shareholders.” Suffolk Community Healthcare Trust employs 1,000 staff who will have to be TUPD’d over from NHS Suffolk to Serco.

Union plans pay strategy

With privatisations and reorganisations, pay freezes and attacks on pensions, "we have a constant fight on our hands, a fight that's a bit like trench warfare, that goes on and on and on," UNISON NEC member Jane Carolan declared as she opened the union's pay and bargaining seminar this afternoon.Welcoming activists and negotiators from across the union to two days of discussions at the UNISON Centre in London, Ms Carolan continued: "But occasionally we need to get out of the trenches and think strategically. And that is what this seminar is about."The meeting came the day after Chancellor George Osborne's "desperate budget for the desperately wealthy" and Ms Carolan noted: "The key problem in the economy is lack of demand - and one factor in that is the public-sector pay freeze."Our members know the true cost of pay cuts: they don't give up a luxury, they struggle to afford a necessity."As general secretary Dave Prentis noted, in local government, UNISON members are facing the third year of a pay freeze, and the second year in the NHS, at a time when inflation averaged 5%, food prices have been going up by 7% a year and energy prices by 15%."And the people on the lowest grades suffer most," he stated: "They spend more of their income on these necessities."And while pay is frozen, employers are attacking terms and conditions, while ministers talk about introducing regional or local pay - cutting the amount of money our members actually get."Our first priority has to be to stop the decreases in our members' pay," he declared."We have to be the ones to say: 'Enough is enough. We will stand in the way of this'."There is no hope, no vision, unless we provide it to our members," Mr Prentis told the gathering of activists and negotiators.UNISON needs to articulate members' concerns on pay, and turn them into action, said Ms Carolan, but also needs to decide whether desperate times need a new strategy.With that question in their minds, members taking part in the seminar broke into detailed discussions on outsourcing and procurement; attacks on terms and conditions; negotiating with private and voluntary sector employers; and maintaining bargaining strength.The discussions will continue tomorrow, when a final session will also look at the strategic conclusions that can be drawn from the union's shared experience.

'Enough is enough' on Local Government pay

“A third year without a pay increase is driving the union’s 750,000 members in Local Government further into dispute with the employers” said Heather Wakefield UNISON Head of Local Government today. The budget yesterday provided no relief to even the lowest paid, as councils are refusing to pay the £250 promised to them by the Chancellor in his 2010 budget statement.With the cost of everyday essentials such as food, fuel and energy going up council workers and their families are struggling just to make ends meet. Heather Wakefield has written to council leaders and chief executives1 calling on them to urgently think again about the impact of the freeze on workers saying “enough is enough”"Local Government Employers2 have once again failed to pay the £250 to those council workers earning below £21,000, as promised by the Chancellor in his 2010 budget. During these tough economic times this has only made personal finances far worse for council employees across the country and the 2011 budget has done nothing to change that. “This third consecutive annual pay freeze means that council workers will have suffered a 15% pay cut in three years and now earn a shocking 10% less in real terms than in 1996. “We are still in dispute with the Local Government Employers over this year's claim for basic pay and will be considering our next steps in the very near future, alongside the other two unions. “Council workers are now the worst paid and rewarded in the public sector. The median earnings for full-time employees are below those in the private sector too3. Councils must recognise that properly treated employees are key to high quality services and reward them with decent pay and conditions for their dedication and loyalty. We are extremely concerned about the introduction of regional pay as opposed to national bargaining, which could have disastrous consequences for members." UNISON has produced a report, Living on the Edge: Pay in Local Government4, which shows that many union members are struggling to survive on low pay and that many are to absolute poverty. Heather Wakefield added: “To add insult to injury, the Government is also intending to lift the hours qualification threshold for Working Tax Credit from 16 to 24 for employees in couple households from 6 April. This will mean that UNISON members will be deprived of financial assistance which makes the difference between survival and absolute poverty. “The Government has rightly awarded public sector workers in the civil service, the NHS and teachers earning a full-time equivalent of £21,000 or less a pay increase of £250 for the second year running. “We say ‘enough is enough’. Not only does low and diminishing pay create a gross injustice towards our hard-working members and their families, it also damages the local economy and vital community services, now and in the future.” UNISON has called upon councils to do three things: · To pay the £250 promised by the Chancellor to NJC employees in your council from 1 April as a consolidated payment· To identify part-time employees who may be affected by the change in conditions for Working Tax Credit and seek to enhance their hours to 24· To resist making (further) cuts to pay, hours and conditions at local level

UNISON budget response

“This budget is not a road to recovery but a Road to Nowhere – No jobs, No growth, No idea.” This is the damning verdict of UNISON chief Dave Prentis on George Osborne’s budget today (21 March).The union accused the Chancellor of sucking demand out of the economy and reverting to the same old Tory tactics, of promising tax cuts just before the next election.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said: “The Chancellor’s budget has given a helping hand-out to his rich friends in the City and delivered a slap in the face to the unemployed and low paid families. “Osborne should be delivering policies to get the 2.67m unemployed people back into work and economically active. Instead, the Government’s cuts agenda is making the situation worse by adding to those numbers month by month. Since the coalition came to power, we have seen 625 public sector workers joining the dole queues every single day, bringing misery to hundreds of thousands of families.“Far from encouraging economic growth, the Chancellors’ policies are sucking demand out of the economy. Public sector workers are being hit with a pay freeze again this year and now the Government are proposing local pay which mean £1.7bn would be lost from the economy. Taking money out of the pockets of hard working people will starve local shops, cafes and businesses out of much needed revenue sending the economy further downwards.“The Chancellor’s budget gives with one hand and takes with the other. The increase in the personal allowance will help those who are working – but offers no relief for the unemployed. And we know that the Government has already announced cuts to tax credits which hits hundreds of thousands of working families with children.“Osborne’s budget flies the Tories true blue colours, but is a missed opportunity to restore desperately needed jobs and growth to the economy.”

No relief for lowest paid in new minimum wage rates

UNISON Chief, Dave Prentis, said today that the new minimum wage rates were “Bitterly disappointing and will condemn millions of families to life on the breadline.”Dave Prentis, went on to say:“While the Chancellor looks set to cut income tax for the very richest, those at the bottom of the pay pile do not have enough to live on. An extra 11p an hour is simply not enough. Millions of workers need a living wage* of £8 an hour to cope with rising prices and keep them out of poverty.“And what message are we sending to our young people when the rates for those under 21 are frozen? They deserve a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and should not be left vulnerable to exploitation.“Of course it is taxpayers who lose out too, as they will have to pick up the in-work benefits bill because of Scrooge employers.”From 1 October 2012, the adult minimum wage rate is set to increase from £6.08 to £6.19 an hour, the Youth Development Rate stays the same at £4.98 an hour as does the rate for 16-17 Year Old Rate at £3.68 an hour. The Apprentice Rate increases from £2.60 to £2.65 an hour.* *The Living Wage is an hourly rate, set independently, every year. It is calculated according to cost of living and gives the minimum pay rate required for a worker to provide their family with the essentials of life. In London the current rate is £8.30 per hour. Outside of London the current rate is £7.20.

Time to kick-start the economy

“It’s time for the Chancellor to kick-start the economy and stop kicking the public sector” said UNISON Chief, Dave Prentis today (19 March). The union is warning that the Government’s mono-policy of cuts and more cuts* is a road to nowhere and what’s needed is fresh thinking to set the country on a course towards building confidence and growth.The Government needs to start creating jobs and investing in the infrastructure and services our economy needs. We need a halt to policies that are damaging vital public services. Cutting homecare, closing libraries, shutting day centres for the elderly leave all the people who rely on them high and dry and the people that provide them needlessly without a job.The government’s pay policy should be reversed and tax and benefit changes that reduce the incomes of those on low to middle incomes shelved.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“Cameron should have strong words with the Chancellor following his visit to the US. President Obama has shown that you can build the economy by investing in jobs and infrastructure. And Vince Cable hit the nail on the head by describing the Chancellors efforts on economic growth as “piecemeal’.“Instead of pursuing his mono-policy of cuts and even thinking of tax breaks for the rich, Osborne should look at how investment creates a virtuous circle. Creating more jobs takes people off benefits, renews consumer confidence and spending which in turn boosts small businesses and powers economic growth.“Fairer taxation would be a good start with the money raised being re-invested in creating jobs and homes. Significant sums could be raised without affecting the incomes of the majority, if the government made sure the financial sector and the super-rich paid their fair share.”The union is arguing that the Chancellor does have a number of popular options available to him to help kick-start the economy. Between £35bn and £70bn could be raised each year by tackling tax evasion by individuals, companies and other organisations - such as the £6bn HMRC let Vodafone off paying.In addition, if the Government dropped their hugely unpopular Health and Social Care Bill they could save £1bn, which could be invested in patient care, not creating a profitable private sector market.

Local Pay will depress economy further

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is today warning that Chancellor George Osborne needs a reality check as he will be taking the country in totally the wrong direction if he pursues plans for local pay scales in his Budget on Wednesday.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“If the Chancellor wants to stimulate economic recovery in his Budget, local pay bargaining is not the way to do it. It will take the country in totally the wrong direction. Local pay pushes depressed areas further into depression by cutting off spending in local businesses. “It took four years to negotiate Agenda for Change in the NHS which successfully established equal pay and pay linked to training. If the Chancellor plans to break it all up, we will have the sorry sight of hospitals competing against each other to recruit and retain staff.“In the NHS nurses, paramedics, therapists and midwives are among the workers suffering for a second year without any increase in pay, to compensate for rising costs. The dismantling of Agenda for Change would be the Government’s final nail in the coffin of our NHS. “Local Government workers already face a third year without a pay rise and cutting pay further, will take many more families onto the breadline and onto benefits, with taxpayers picking up the bill.“The Chancellor would risk plunging the whole of the public sector back into a recruitment crisis if pay is depressed any further. There is a whole raft of jobs where pay in the private sector is considerably higher. “It is clear that Osborne has either run out of ideas, or simply does not understand the dynamics of the labour market. The idea of local pay has been dumped as old fashioned by most big companies, with the exception of a few supermarket chains. “The Budget should be used to stimulate the whole of the economy, not depress parts of the country further.”

Privatisation has driven down homecare standards

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said today that a toxic combination of funding cuts and privatisation have driven down standards in homecare, leaving elderly people without the help and support they need. Commenting on a report by consumer magazine ‘Which’, describing standards of homecare services as “disgraceful”, the union is warning that without government action, things will only get worse.84% of homecare services are now run by private companies. Government cuts have led to councils cutting the cost of contracts, pay has fallen and training is many cases is near to non-existent.Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said:
”Homecare services should provide elderly people with the help and support they need to carry on living with dignity in their own homes. This is the preferred option for many people and cheaper than residential care. “The Coalition Government has inflicted drastic cuts on local authorities with the result that elderly people are suffering. Cash strapped councils are selling off 15 minute care slots to the lowest bidder. Is it any wonder that care workers tell us they don’t have the time they need to care for elderly people properly?“Care workers have seen their pay cut and are all too often living on the minimum wage and yet they still get no pay for traveling between appointments. The bar to accessing local authority care is getting higher, but many homecare workers do not get training. The elderly people they visit will be very frail, needing medication and some suffer from debilitating conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Proper training is essential to give the level of care needed. “It is time for the Government to face up to their responsibilities and ensure that councils get the funding they need to deliver high quality care to our elderly.”

Unions call for Green Teams to boost economy and environment

A new report by UNISON, supported by the TUC, today maps out a green path to recovery. It calls for local authorities to take a lead in developing sustainable energy projects that will both cut carbon emissions, ease fuel poverty and create vital local jobs to boost economic recovery. The report – based on a comprehensive survey of local authorities – shows councils are creating green jobs, highlights a new funding model available for sustainable community projects and calls on the government to issue clear policy to encourage take up. This must include reinstating higher Feed in Tariffs* for community level renewable energy projects. It also shows the vital role the public sector can play in tackling our economic decline and fulfilling our international environmental commitments. Crucially, the report makes recommendations to central and local government on how to make green teams a reality. The report will be launched at an event at TUC Congress House today (31 Jan) - The New Green Team: Local government, sustainable energy, jobs and skills. Speakers on the day will include Caroline Lucas MP, Leader of the Green Party, Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary, TUC and Mike Jeram, National Secretary for Business and the Environment, at UNISON. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Central and local government must act now – both our economy and environment are hanging in the balance. Green teams are a real opportunity to create much needed local jobs and boost our energy efficiency. By making homes more sustainable, we would also help ease fuel poverty that millions of families are struggling with. Local businesses would not only benefit from more people working and spending money in local shops, pubs and restaurants, but could also take part in community energy efficiency programmes. “This report sets out exactly what needs to happen to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of rolling green teams out nationally. We want key stakeholders such as local authorities and MPs to act on this – it really is a win/win scenario.” TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Local councils across the UK are starting to make a real difference when it comes to cutting down on energy costs – insulating homes, tackling fuel poverty and slashing their own emissions. But all of this costs money, and the worry is that with local authorities seeing a huge cut in the grants they get from government, this good work is being put at risk.“Greater energy efficiency is not a luxurious optional extra – it is something that will pay long-term economic and environmental dividends, and it must be right at the heart of the public policy agenda. So whether it’s through a Robin Hood Tax on financial transactions, a tax on bankers’ bonuses or a proper clampdown on tax avoidance, the means certainly must be found to make the UK an energy efficient reality.”*Feed in tariffs allow people or companies to generate electricity and either use it or sell it to their energy supplier.

Taxpayers' Alliance compensation figures distract from real policing picture

Commenting on figures released by the TaxPayers' Alliance, which show that £12 million has been paid out to injured police staff since 2006, Ben Priestley, UNISON’s national officer for police staff, said:“The police do a really important job and it is only right that they are supported if they are injured at work. “The sums involved are just 0.01% of the £17 billion budget. "This mustn’t be used as a distraction from the huge cuts being made to the police, which are forcing officers to pick up duties previously carried out by back office staff and threaten to increase crime levels in all our communities.”

The Taxpayers Alliance are at it again !!

Don't let the truth spoil a good Tory plot to undermine public services.
The cost to the Tax payer is 5p in every £1 and this is achieved by having a well managed fund that generates a good income and actually saves the Council having to dig deeper into the tax payers pockets.Until recently the Shropshire fund was one of the best in the country.The Tax Payers Alliance is a perfect example of how dangerous it is to have knowledge that you do not understand and use it in an area where you do not know what you are talking about.

Taxpayers Alliance gets it wrong on pensions

Commenting on the TaxPayers' Alliance report released today, which wrongly calculates that £1 in every £5 in council tax goes towards local government pensions, Heather Wakefield, UNISON’s head of local government, said: "This simply isn’t true. Actually, the local government pension scheme costs the taxpayer just 5p in every £1 paid in council tax. "Councils get only 25% of their revenue from council tax, 75% comes from other sources, including business rates and local government grants. "If the schemes were closed down, or people were priced out, they would be pushed onto means-tested benefits in their retirement. When dinner ladies, social workers and care staff retire, on average they will get just £4,000 a year, dropping to just £2,600 for women."The TPA should concentrate on getting their facts straight, rather than attacking sustainable and affordable schemes."

Cameron's economy speech

Commenting on David Cameron’s speech on the economy, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “David Cameron claims he wants to create a fair economy, but we won’t take him seriously until he acts to stop bankers awarding themselves huge bonuses. “At the same time that Goldman Sachs staff are enjoying nearly £8bn worth of bonuses, the Government is freezing pay for public sector workers and axing jobs and vital services.“If Cameron really wants to create a fair economy he needs to tackle unemployment, stop savage cuts and invest in deprived communities.”

UNISON members back local government pensions talks

UNISON members in the local government pensions scheme this week voted to continue negotiating with the employers over potential changes to their pensions. More than 150 nationally elected activists in UNISON’s five sector groups representing the local government pensions scheme, gave their backing to the framework proposals for talks that the union’s negotiators have secured since November 30. Negotiations will now enter an intense phase, running until April 2012 – at which point members will be fully consulted on the final offer. Should talks fail, the union’s ballot remains live, leaving the option of more industrial action on the table. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “This week, our elected activists representing members that save into the local government scheme, gave their unequivocal backing to the framework proposals for more negotiations that we have secured since November 30. “We have agreed some important principles for the talks, including no change to contribution rates until 2014, and a commitment to protecting the pensions rights of workers that have been outsourced or are under threat of privatisation. “Talks with the local government employers will now run until April 2012. Members will continue to be consulted at every stage – including when we have a final offer. But if talks should break down – our ballot means we can still take industrial action.” *The five sector groups include - Local Government, Community, Police and Justice, Water, Environment and Transport (WET), and Higher Education.

UNISON welcomes some justice for Lawrence family

(04/01/12) With today's sentencing of two men for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, UNISON welcomes a degree of justice for the Lawrence family.UNISON president Eleanor Smith said: "At last the Lawrence family have some justice. Their campaign – which is not over – has been both tireless and dignified."I am proud of the role that UNISON has played in giving the family its support."And she continued: "There can be no place for racism in our society – both of the overt kind demonstrated in the horrendous attack on Stephen, and the more covert, institutional kind unearthed by the inquiry into the original police investigation."We all have a responsibility to make sure every possible lesson can be learnt to honour Stephen's memory."

Decent social care must be funded through national insurance

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called for a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. The call comes in the wake of demands for urgent action and fundamental reform to care and home help services from a broad coalition of government advisers, charities, unions and independent experts.The union has welcomed some of the proposals set out by the Dilnot Commission as a “step in the right direction” but warned that the commission’s recommendation of voluntary insurance, will not solve the problem of underfunding.Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said:“Social care is characterised by inadequate funding which has created an unfair and unsustainable system, leading to falling quality care. It’s time to take urgent action but voluntary insurance is not the answer. It will create a two-tier system of care – high quality care paid by insurance and low quality care underfunded by the state.“What is needed is a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to really tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. Without serious public funding there will be the disappearance of these services and an increase in private sector provision. This is not the way to ensure a personalised quality care service or develop a quality well paid care workforce for the future.”

Real pensions timebomb is in the private sector

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called on the government to take urgent action to protect private sector pensions, after a survey revealed a shocking number were being closed or watered down. With two thirds of private sector workers already shut out of saving for their retirement, action would also protect taxpayers from a spiralling means tested benefits bill. UNISON estimates that taxpayers already face a bill of up to £15 billion for supporting the millions of private sector workers who have not not saved for their retirement – the real pensions timebomb. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “The real pensions timebomb is in the private sector. Already two thirds of these workers get nothing from their employers towards their pensions - this could cost the taxpayer billions in the future. The situation will spiral even further out of control, if more schemes are shut down and the taxpayer has to step in to cover the cost of supporting even more workers in their retirement. “The government must take urgent action to make sure more schemes in the private sector are not lost or weakened. The new regulations coming in later this year will be too little too late for many who will still have to rely on the state in retirement – the minimum contributions are insufficient to give people enough to live on in their old age.”

*Survey by the Association of Consulting Actuaries.

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Public Service Pension Strike Rally Shrewsbury Square lunchtime today

UNISON chief issues rallying call to its 1.1 million members

On the eve of the biggest strike in the union’s history, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has issued a rallying cry to its 1.1 million members saying:“This is an historic week for our union. The time has come to make your stand and join the fight for a fair pensions deal. I am so proud of all our members – including the nurses, social workers, PCSOs, librarians, dinner ladies, teaching assistants, bin men and paramedics who will be standing shoulder to shoulder on picket lines tomorrow.“We know we have the public on our side. They know that public service workers are not asking for more – they just want the pension deal they were promised.“Taking strike action is not an easy option, especially with Christmas just round the corner, but we will show Government ministers tomorrow that we will not take this pensions tax lying down.”

Government policies hitting women hard- not strike action

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today accused the Government of making women and families pay a high price for the economic crisis, while the bankers get off scot-free. He hit back at claims made by Co-chairman of the Conservative Party, Sayeeda Warsi, that the pensions strike will damage women, saying that it is cuts to jobs, vital public services, pensions and benefits that are hitting women across the UK hardest. Added to this, the rising cost of absolute basics such as food and fuel are squeezing family budgets to the limit. The truth is that 3,700,000 women will be affected by the Government’s plans to make them pay more, work longer, for less benefits.Dave Prentis, went on to say:“It is this Government’s savage economic policies that are really hurting women and their families. UNISON has one million women members and they deliver vital services day in day out, looking after and educating our children, caring for the sick and elderly and keeping communities and young people safe. It is this Government that has pushed them to the brink and into strike action to protect their pensions. “Applications to join UNISON have gone up by 126% since the result of our ballot was announced, 81% from women. These women don’t take strike action lightly, but they know who to turn to for help – and it is not this Coalition Government who are losing the trust of women across the UK.”For facts about women and pensions see UNISON’s ‘The Pension Pinch’Coalition ministers want to make major changes to the pension available to public service workers – 65% of whom are women.

Check out our infographic. Click on it to enlarge it.
http://www.unison.org.uk/n30/infographic.asp

Public spending myths

It’s an uncertain and confusing time. People will try to exploit this by
spreading misinformation and creating scapegoats. Some are even
saying that public services are part of the problem. Here are the facts.
Was this crisis caused by too much public spending?

 the UK still spends less (21% of GDP) on public services and social security
than France (29%), Germany (27%), Italy (25%), or Sweden (29%).

 before this crisis, total UK public debt was less than 40% of GDP – lower than
other comparable economies and lower than it was in 1997.

 irresponsible borrowing and lending in the private sector caused this crisis – in
2008 household debt was 109% of GDP, and corporate debt almost 300%.

 public deficits are now rising fast because the government has had to take on
the private sector’s bad debts and counteract the damage to the economy.

Are public services a waste of money?

 there are examples of waste, like PFI or management consultants, but most of
the money goes to help people in need or improve everyone’s quality of life
 public service productivity has been improving consistently since 2003 – for
every pound put in, we get more and better services in return.

 investing in public services also helps local jobs and businesses – for every
pound spent, 64 pence is recycled into the local economy.

Do I get anything in return for the taxes I pay?

 the average UK household relies on benefits and public services worth more
than £10,000 every year – more than they contribute in direct or indirect tax.

 those in greater need, such as the elderly, people with disabilities or children in
poverty, rely on public spending even more – and would be hardest hit by cuts.
“In every downturn, politicians and press turn on the public sector – feather-bedded,
gold-plated, protected… Picking on choice examples of public excess, the right aims
to persuade voters to cut services in ways that will cause immense public harm.”
– Polly Toynbee, The Guardian

Are we paying for lots of ‘non-jobs’ in public services?

 some job titles sound odd if you don’t know what they mean – but they usually
turn out to be important and valuable if you look into it properly

 the public sector employs fewer managers per worker than the private sector,
and fewer administrators per worker than the private financial services sector

 the real problem in our public services is staff shortages – for example we don’t
have enough midwives, youth workers, planners, social workers, or carers

Do public service workers have it easy?

 26% of public sector employees feel “very stressed” or “extremely stressed”,
compared to 18% in the private sector

 31% of local government workers and 52% of NHS workers regularly work
overtime without receiving any extra pay or time off in lieu

 public service workers take no more sickness absence than workers of the
same age and gender employed in the private sector

 last year there were 48,000 redundancies in ‘education, health & public
administration’; many more are expected this year

Are public service workers over-paid?

 the richest 1% of the UK population take home more money every year than
the total pay bill for the NHS, schools and local government put together

 the majority of public service workers earn less than £22,000 a year, and 20%
of them – more than 1.5 million in total – earn less than £7 an hour

 since 1997 public sector pay has risen less than private sector pay, and for the
past few years public sector pay deals have been below-inflation

 the average pension for a local government worker is about £4,000 a year, or
£1,600 for women

 the average NHS pension is about £7,000 a year, or £5,000 for women – this
figure includes higher paid doctors; most NHS staff get much less

Does the recession mean public services have to be cut?

 right now the government should be borrowing to increase social spending.
Cutting benefits or services would make the recession longer and harder.

 in future years we will have to reduce government borrowing. But this can be
done by raising taxes or cutting spending in other areas. It’s a political choice.

 more people think the government should raise taxes (53%)
rather than reduce spending on public services (35%) as a way
of paying back public debt.

 billions could be raised by ensuring big companies and the
super-rich pay a fairer share of tax.

More could be saved by cancelling Trident or ID cards.

UNISON adverts paint real picture of pensions crisis ahead of strike

UNISON has launched a set of hard-hitting adverts, which show the real face of the pensions crisis pushing public sector workers to strike. The women featured include a custody detention officer, nurse and a local government worker, who finds jobs and apprenticeships for unemployed young people. The adverts point out exactly how much worse off the women would be at work and in retirement because of ministers’ pension proposals.Women in the public sector have been the hardest hit by the Government’s pay freeze, job and service cuts. Proposals to make them pay more for their pensions and work longer, for less, have forced these workers to breaking point and have led to them to join the picket lines on 30 November.Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary, said:“These are real people taking real action to protect their pensions. The majority of public sector workers are women, who are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families in the face of a pay freeze and rising inflation. These workers cannot afford to pay more and work longer, to receive less in retirement.“The workers in the adverts represent the many women who have been pushed to the brink by Government ministers’ pensions proposals.“Public sector workers spend their lives providing vital services and care deeply about their communities. They have had their pay frozen and seen rising workloads, as jobs and services are slashed. Now Government ministers’ are coming for their pensions. “We are willing to negotiate with Government ministers’ any time, any place, but we still have no deal that we can put to a single one of these workers. We want pensions that are secure and sustainable and give people dignity in their retirement. The door is open, it’s time to talk.”

UNISON calls on Government ministers' to negotiate

Commenting on Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander's announcement today that there was "no more money on the table" to settle the dispute over the Government's controversial pension reforms, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:Despite what Danny Alexander says, there is no money on the table at the moment and no offer. After eight months of talks, all we have is a statement in Parliament. Danny Alexander's words need to be translated into offers in the specific pension scheme talks, so that we have something on which to negotiate and to put to our members. And if government ministers are so worried about the impact on the economy, they should make sure that there are offers made in those talks. The strike will go ahead - it is a last resort, but dinner ladies, teaching assistants and nurses will be among millions of public sector workers walking out next Wednesday. We are willing to negotiate any time, any place, for pensions that are secure and sustainable and give people dignity in their retirement.

Government Housing Strategy Raises False Hope

“For the millions of people on waiting lists, living in unsuitable homes, or struggling to get on the housing ladder, the Government’s latest bid to tackle the housing crisis, does little more than cruelly raise false hopes”, warned Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, today.Decent, affordable housing is in short supply said the union, but today’s announcement of £400m has to be seen in the context of the 60 per cent - £4billion - cut to the affordable housing budget announced in last year’s spending review.Dave Prentis, went on to say:“The level of demand for affordable homes is outstripping supply at a rate of two to one. The government’s dogmatic refusal to spell out the extent to which their measures will address this gap does not give any grounds for optimism.“We need serious, long-term investment in the housing sector to give people hope and to boost jobs and the economy.”

FURTHER INFORMATION ON LGPS DISPUTE

1. The changes made basing index linking from RPI to CPI have already happened and will further reduce pensions.

2. Many low paid staff have already opted out of the LGPS – an average of 25% of eligible workers are not paying into the scheme, and in some authorities less than 50 per cent of workers are paying in

3. Many LGPS members are facing tough choices about their outgoings in the face of a pay freeze and the soaring cost of living including food, transport and energy prices. The 80% of local government workers earning £21k or under have not received the £250 compensation during what is so far a two-year pay freeze, unlike other parts of the public sector. Contribution increases will mean many will not be able to afford to continue to pay into the scheme

4. The threshold of £15k to protect ‘low paid’ workers from paying more is far too low. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s “Minimum Income Standard” for a working couple with two children is at least £36,800 for a minimum acceptable standard of living – an average of £18,400 each

5. Many part-time staff whose actual earnings are less than £15k will not be protected from having to pay higher contributions because their full-time equivalent earnings on which their pension is based would be above that. In local government two thirds of our workforce are part-time

6. The uncertainty about just what our pension will be worth in future years means many workers are losing confidence in the benefits of paying into the scheme. The current proposals for LGPS are due to take effect in 2014, but a whole raft more detrimental changes are expected from 2015. Workers are increasingly questioning whether it will be worth our while to continue paying more and more in. The uncertainty that has blighted confidence in private sector money-purchase schemes is spreading to public sector schemes

If there are large scale opt-outs from the LGPS, the consequences could be catastrophic.

On current terms the LGPS will be cash rich for 15-20 years – it currently takes in £4bn more each year than it pays out. If the changes trigger large scale opt-outs, the Scheme will be in deficit within 5 years. Far from sustaining public sector schemes for the future, the changes could be bringing about their demise.

03/11/2011
Yes Vote signals green light for strike action

Following the decisive yes vote, UNISON’s lay activists have given the green light to strike action on 30 November, to protect their pensions.The union welcomed the theoretical improvements to the pension schemes made by Danny Alexander yesterday, saying that the pressure from UNISON and others had resulted in the Government moving significantly from their original position.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said:“Today’s Yes vote signals the green light for the first day of strike action, and we will be joining with other unions in the TUC co-ordinated day of action on November 30th.“While there was significant movement from the Government yesterday, at this stage we only have a theoretical pension scheme, that has yet to be translated into scheme offers. We have no offer in either the local government or the health pension schemes that we can put to our members.“What we do have is a overwhelming yes vote in a legal ballot. And our democratic committees have taken the decision to authorise action with the TUC in line with the wishes of our members.“So it is now up to government ministers and employers‚ to get down to work and come up with firm offers that we can put to our members.”

Dave Prentis, general secretary

Our industrial action ballot over unnecessary and damaging plans to make public sector workers work longer, pay more and get less in their retirement, closes on Thursday 3 November. See what the changes mean to you here.Everyone entitled to vote should have received their ballot paper by now - find yours at home and post it back - don't delay. Vote Yes today. It's important that you use your vote. We know that those who are against us will argue that any abstention is a No vote and means you're in favour of the attacks on your pension. Don't give them that excuse!So act now and vote Yes to defend your pension. And forward this e-mail to your work colleagues and friends. If you haven't received your ballot paper, or if you need a replacement, remember you've got until midday on 31 October to call the ballot hotline on 0845 355 0845.

Separating the pensions facts from the right wing 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 bosses of Britain's largest companies have an average pension 34 times bigger than the average public sector pension

High Court challenge to public sector pensions

Six unions have mounted a legal challenge on behalf of millions of public sector workers over what inflation index is used to increase their pensions.A judicial review hearing starts in the High Court on Tuesday (25) to challenge 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.The move - effective from April this year - was announced by chancellor George Osborne in the June 2010 budget, without any consultation or negotiation, who claimed CPI was the more appropriate measure. The unions have always contended it was a deficit reduction measure.As part of the ongoing talks over wider cuts to public sector pensions, ministers have since ruled out any negotiations on the issue.The government must review pensions and benefits each year against increases in prices and uprate them by at least the same percentage. September's inflation figures put CPI at 5.2% and RPI at 5.6%.Because CPI is around 1.2% lower on average than RPI, the loss to existing public sector pensioners will be around 15%. It is already affecting staff currently paying into career average schemes whose pension pots are revalued annually and will be smaller when they retire.The switch has also been applied to many private sector pensions, wiping an estimated £75 billion off their value. Some estimates put the figure even higher.The unions' case is that the imposed move was not permitted under social security legislation, and that it reneges on assurances given by successive governments that RPI would apply.The six unions are UNISON, the Fire Brigades' Union, teachers' union NASUWT, Prison Officers Association, Public and Commercial Services union, and Unite.All the unions have either already balloted for industrial action, are balloting, or will be supporting the day of action over pensions on 30 November.There will be a demonstration in support of the judicial review outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL, from 8.30am to 10am on Tuesday 25 October.UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "UNISON is backing this judicial review because we cannot allow the coalition to run roughshod over pensioners."The way that a country treats its citizens when they retire is a mark of a decent and fair society. The government has stepped over that mark - the switch is nothing but a cynical, multi-million pound raid on pensioners to pay down a deficit they did nothing to cause. This flawed measure of inflation does not even include housing costs - a major expenditure for many retired people."Instead of clobbering pensioners, and people on benefits, the government should impose a tiny tax on financial transactions that would raise billions."FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said "The government actions are unfair and, we believe, unlawful. This is a vicious attack on existing and future pensioners that could cost them tens of thousands of pounds."Pensioners are being forced to bear an unfair burden for the financial crisis caused by the banks. Firefighters will be robbed of thousands of pounds while the bankers who caused the problems continue to count up huge bonuses."We're being told to work a lot longer, pay a lot more and now get a lot less. Hard hit pensioners don't feel 'we're all in it together' when the chancellor's chums in the City still have their snouts in the trough at our expense."NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates: "The question the court is being asked to answer is whether it is just and fair to arbitrarily change the basis on which pensions are calculated, reducing their value by thousands of pounds."The government's actions are a breach of the contract with ordinary working people. We are looking to the court to make sure that millions of ordinary workers will not be left facing a bleak and uncertain future at a time when cost of living is soaring."POA deputy general secretary Mark Freeman said: "Once again the government has shown its willingness to attack the vulnerable in society to protect their friends in the financial institutions. The trade unions will demonstrate their support for pensioners on 30 November and the POA urges all right thinking workers to demonstrate on that day.*PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The switch from RPI to CPI is just another example of how this government wants public servants, pensioners and people entitled to benefits to pay the heaviest price for the recession. For new entrants to the civil service it means an immediate cut in their pensions, ripping up an agreement we reached just a few years ago."As well as challenging this in court, the unions are mounting the widest, most co-ordinated industrial action we have seen in our lifetimes, to force the government to think again and show how out of touch millionaire ministers are with the lives and concerns of the rest of us."Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: "Our legal challenge against the coalition government is hugely significant for workers in both the public and private sectors."Public sector workers face an opportunistic attack on their pensions by this government, but many workers in the private sector have also been affected."Vested interests are trying to create a wedge between public and private sector workers, when in reality they have common cause on this. We know that some private sector employers are already attempting to move to the lower inflation index citing the government's example. In reality this government wants us all to work for longer and for less."

Government 's £35 million raid on public sector pensions

From today, millions of retired public sector workers will see the real value of their pension drop, because payments will be linked to increases in the September CPI*, rather than increases in the September RPI**, says UNISON, the UK’s largest union. Based on the average pension rates in the health and local government schemes, UNISON calculates that the move has taken more than £35 million out of the pockets of retired public sector workers in just one year alone. September’s RPI figure has historically been used to calculate the yearly uplift in state and public sector pensions, as well as a range of other benefits, to reflect the cost of living. With CPI consistently lower than RPI, this represents a cut in pensions and other benefits, at the same time as the government is trying to claim it wants to protect pensioners. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “This is nothing but a multi million pound raid on pensioners to pay down the deficit. It’s a disgrace – retired people getting a state or public sector pension did not cause the economic crisis – but they are paying for it. At the same time the government is trying to claim it is protecting pensioners – these claims are hollow. “We already know that pensioners are struggling to cope with the rising cost of fuel, food and housing. From April next year, life will be a little harder for some of the most vulnerable in our society. It could push more people into poverty in their old age. “Public sector pensioners will be hit twice – once in their basic state pension, and again in the public sector pension they have saved all their working life for. “Taking money out of pensioners’ pockets will also hit our chances of economic recovery. Our stagnant economic growth desperately needs people to be out spending in shops and businesses – not struggling to cope with the basic cost of living. There are fairer alternatives to pay down the deficit. Instead of clobbering pensioners, and people on a host of other benefits, the government could impose a tiny tax on financial transactions to raise billions.”The switch in pensions and benefits indexation is part of wider moves to attack pensions. UNISON is currently running the biggest ballot in history over detrimental plans for public sector pensions, and is calling on members to Vote Yes for industrial action. Government ministers are trying to raise £4 billion by making public sector workers pay more, work longer, all for less in their retirement – we believe this is a tax on public sector workers to pay down the deficit. Reforms already made to public sector pensions have made them affordable and sustainable for the long term. The local government scheme, that council, some education workers and police and probation staff save into, could pay all its liabilities for 20 years without a single penny more in contributions. The health scheme raises £2bn for the Treasury every year, because more money is coming in than going out. Over the next five years it will raise £10 billion that will be used to top up government spending.

False economy of damaging changes to local government pension scheme

UNISON has exposed the false economy of Government Ministers’ plans to make damaging changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Figures produced for the union, show that by paying into their pensions council workers save the government a total of £2.5billion every year* in benefit claims. The proposed changes would lead to pensioner poverty for millions of workers, pushing them onto benefits such as pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit. The average pension received by all members of the LGPS is just £3,048* a year - but saving for their pensions means members are less dependent on benefits in the future. The UK’s largest union is currently balloting 1.1 million members for strike action over the changes to public sector schemes.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“These figures expose the false economy of making these unnecessary and damaging changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme.“If Government Ministers push ahead with their plans to make council workers pay more and work longer, for less, then many may be forced to opt out the scheme, pushing people onto costly benefits when they retire.“Two thirds of LGPS members are women, working as teaching assistants, carers, social workers, cleaners and dinner ladies. The average pension of these women is just £2,800 a year, yet they may be forced to opt out if Government Ministers push ahead with plans to make them pay more and work longer, for less.“The Local Government scheme is cash rich, with the income far exceeding the outgoings. All public sector schemes were assessed and renegotiated to be sustainable and affordable just three years ago and are very secure. “Our members know these changes are a false economy and will fight to protect their pensions by ticking the ‘Yes’ box in the ballot papers this week.”

Pensions dispute linked to recruitment surge

At the heart of the campaign: the West Midlands pensions hub in action (14/10/11) The concern of public sector workers for the future of their pensions – and their recognition of the role UNISON is playing in protecting them – has led to a surge of new members in the West Midlands. The region has recruited more than 640 new members in the past 10 days, as a direct result of the pensions dispute. Across the UK, UNISON is balloting 1.1 million members for industrial action over the proposed changes to pensions, which would make public sector employees work longer, pay more and get less when they retire.Seven days before the ballot opened, West Midlands region focused its annual health week on the pensions issue. That week alone, it recruited 315 student nurses. "There are hundreds of briefings going on across the region, with activists and staff getting to meet members in all areas and all service groups," says regional convenor Sue Laws. "And recruitment is excellent. "This is a great opportunity to get out there and show what UNISON can do."West Midlands regional secretary Ravi Subramanian adds: "This is, without doubt, the biggest industrial action ballot UNISON has ever undertaken. We need a big turnout and a strong Yes vote to send a strong message that UNISON members will fight to protect their pensions."To that end, says Mr Subramanian, UNISON needs every one of its activists to go into workplaces to spread the message about why it is important to vote in the ballot. The region has prepared the ground for its own activists with the creation of a "pensions hub". Set up in the regional centre in Birmingham and staffed by four organising staff, the hub acts as a walk-in centre for pensions champions and other branch activists, advising them on the key pensions facts and how to discuss them with members. The team also operates a phone line and email Q&A service, distributes pensions materials, and produces a News from the Hub newsletter for pensions champions. "It's working really well," says area organiser Lynn Horsnett, who is one of the quartet running the hub. "It's giving a sense of co-ordination for the ballot campaign across the region and helps to keep everyone focused on getting the vote out." Ms Horsnett said that the pensions champions – at least one for each of the region's 80 branches – were trained at the regional centre. They are now being supported by organising staff in delivering briefings in workplaces. At the same time, retired members and others are volunteering at the hub phones, extending the coverage of members even further.

12/10/2011
UNISON chief in warning over pensions value

Speaking at the union’s retired members’ conference, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, will today warn the government that anger is building from pensioners hit hard by their decision to use CPI, not RPI*, to calculate pension payments. He will also thank the union’s retired members for their strong support in the union’s campaign for decent pensions, as it gears up for the biggest industrial action in a generation over detrimental changes to public sector pensions. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “I am warning the government that pensioners are angry that their savings have been raided. Not only do they face the biggest industrial action in a generation from public sector workers, they face losing the long term support of pensioners come election time.“Retired members know how important it is to stand up for pensions rights. They know that even after a lifetime of saving, public sector pensions are not gold plated. They also know what a struggle it is for other pensioners to cope with the rising cost of living. Energy bills and the price of basics such as food and housing are on the up. These daily essentials take up the lion’s share of pensioners’ weekly budgets. “The government has made things harder for pensioners by switching from retail prices to consumer prices to calculate pension rises. From April this year, this will spark a long-term decline in the value of public and state pensions. This will push more pensioners into poverty in their retirement.”Separating the pensions facts from the right wing 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 bosses of Britain's largest companies have an average pension 34 times bigger than the average public sector pension*CPI – consumer prices index, RPI – retail prices index UNISON has 1.4 million members, and another 140,000 retired members.

Unemployment figures - UNISON response

As unemployment reaches its highest level in 17 years, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the government to ditch plan A and act quickly to get our recovery on track. The union has been campaigning for an alternative economic plan that includes taxing bank bonuses and transactions, using cash raised to protect jobs, and stimulate growth and recovery. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Here is yet more proof that this government’s policies are wrong for the economy. Our recovery is not even off the starting blocks, and the toll of job losses keeps on mounting.“Today’s figures show that young people are paying a heavy price for the bankers’ recession – the government must act to give them hope for the future. Long-term unemployed figures are also climbing – to be out of work for more than 12 months has a huge impact on people and their families. “The government must put a stop to public sector job losses – they are hitting the private sector, and our chances of recovery, hard. There are fair alternatives – such as getting the banks to pay their fair share, introducing a small (0.05%) tax on financial transactions, and raise billions that can be used to stimulate growth and recovery – and give hardworking people back some hope.”

DCLG pensions' proposals - UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said today that the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) proposals for local government pensions would hit the predominantly low paid, women workforce in local government, hard. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “These proposals would hit low paid women in local government hard – they make up the vast majority of local government workers. Their pensions are already low – average rates are £4,000 for men, dropping to just £2,600 or £50 a week for women. Changes to the accrual rates would bring down the value of their pensions even further. “We have said from the start that these drastic changes to the local government pension scheme are not necessary – it is cash rich and financially sound. The reforms already made in the last set of negotiations have made it affordable and sustainable for the long term.” Key facts about the local government scheme The local government scheme could fund all its liabilities for twenty years without a single penny more in contributions. It has funds worth £140 billion – equivalent to 12% of UK GDP, making it one of the biggest institutional investors in the world.

Women bear brunt of Government Ministers' pension attack

Women are the biggest group to be affected by government ministers plans to change public sector pension schemes, according to new figures gathered by UNISON, the UK’s largest union. More than 3.7 million women* (6 in 10) working in public services across the UK could be affected by the plans to make them pay more, work longer and receive less pension in retirement – 320,445 of these are in the South West. After 8 months’ of talks, UNISON has decided to ballot 1.1m of its members in local government, the NHS, police support staff, the environment agency, water companies and passenger transport executives for strike action. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “We have found that women in the South West are being badly hit by the recession both as providers and as users of services. In the public sector, they face pay freezes at a time of rising inflation, job losses and now an attack on their pension entitlements. “These women are often low paid and struggling to make ends meet as prices rise and wages are cut; many are single parents. They already pay a sizeable proportion of their salaries into their pension schemes to save for their retirement. And those schemes are already sustainable and affordable. Government ministers want them to pay on average around 50% more, with no guarantee that the money will go into the pension schemes. All but the lowest paid will have to pay what is effectively a tax on public sector workers trying to save for their retirement. “I have said that we are willing to negotiate anywhere, anytime, but after 8 months of talks, we don’t seem to be making much progress. So we are asking members to vote yes to strike action in the forthcoming ballot.”Jane Carter, 37, is a receptionist for Bath and North East Somerset Council. She said: “I currently earn £16,000 a year and pay £87 per month into my pension. I am very concerned by the government’s changes as I may have to pay an extra £45 a month, work for longer and see no benefit for it. “I’ve had to make sacrifices due to a long-term medical condition and am already cutting expenditure. Prices are rising and any pensions increases forced on us by government will make life harder and wipe out my ability to save. I will therefore be voting yes in the strike ballot.”Nurses, care staff, teaching assistants, social workers and school meals workers are just some of the women who will be affected by the plans. The average pension for a woman working in local government is just £2,800 a year and in health it’s around £3,500 a year. The lowest paid already pay 5.5% in the LGPS and 5% in the NHSPS of their salaries to save for their retirement. This rises to 7.5% and 8.5% for those on higher pay. If they did not save, they would end up on means-tested benefits, at a cost to taxpayers. UNISON has more than one million members in membership.

Climate of fear created as police jobs axed

UNISON is predicting a climate of fear caused by huge cuts to police staff, on the day of the Home Affairs speeches at Tory party conference. An Ipsos MORI survey carried out for the union in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight shows that 71% of residents believe their communities will be less safe after the cuts.Three quarters of the public surveyed (75%) are concerned that cuts on this scale will hit services, including frontline policing. The findings also indicate that two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed in Hampshire and Isle of Wight feel that these cuts to police budgets put at risk the Conservative Party’s reputation for being tough on crime.Hampshire Constabulary is facing a 20% cut to its budget. Between 2010 and 2015 the national police service will lose 16,100 police staff, 1,800 PCSOs and 16,200 police officers. Ben Priestley, UNISON’s National Officer for Police Staff, said:“The public are not fooled by the Government’s false claims about protecting frontline policing. A climate of fear is being created by these cuts to police staff. “Forensics officers, PCSOs and 999 call takers are among the police staff carrying out vital roles for community safety. The public know that if these jobs are cut there will be more pressures on the frontline and crime will soar.“If officers are forced off the beat to take over back office work, we will lose vital police presence. This is also a false economy – the cost of doing the work doubles, as officers are paid around twice a much as police staff.“The Government claims that forces must just tighten their belts and become more efficient, but the results of the survey proves that the general public have seen through this. The public realise that less spending on police will mean more crime in their community. We have the public on our side when it comes to cutting crime - it is about time the Government started listening to us and them.”