"Four out of five service groups say vote 'yes' in the LGPS ballot"

Excellent news! The elected lay Service Group Executives of UNISON have voted overwhelmingly to endorse the new look Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS 2014).

"Members covered by Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales are being urged to vote yes to a new LGPS 2014 scheme when they are balloted this month.

In all around 660,000 members in five UNISON service groups will be covered by the ballot, including:

• 580,000 members in local government;
• 40,000 in police and justice;
• 19,000 in higher education;
• 17,000 in community;
• 6,000 in the water, environment and transport service group.

The local government, police and justice, community and WET service groups are all recommending that members vote 'yes' in the ballot. The higher education service group is recommending that members vote 'no'.

Heather Wakefield, national secretary for local government and police and justice, who led the negotiations for UNISON says: "After months of talks, led by UNISON, we now want you to have your say on the proposals for the new Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS 2014).

"UNISON is recommending that members vote yes in the ballot, because we believe that these proposals give most LGPS members - and especially women and low paid workers, who are the majority of members - a better pension deal.

"It is vital that members make their voice heard.

"Please tell your members to look out for their ballot paper which is being sent direct to the home addresses of all UNISON members who are in the LGPS or eligible to join."

The LGPS Scrutiny Group has decided on a joint ballot. It will run from 31 July to 24 August, and members can vote by post or online.

In Scotland, pensions are a devolved matter for the Scottish government and the Scottish LGPS is a separate scheme, with no clear proposals to change it. The LGPS in Northern Ireland is covered by different regulations and proposals are still under discussion".

Intermission (and The Fighting Temeraire)

Blogging and responding to comments will be a bit erratic for the new few days. As is my want and for no  particular reason I have posted this picture of one of my favour paintings.  "The Fighting Temeraire" by Joseph Mallord William Turner.

Double click on picture to bring up detail.

Enjoy!

Letter to Chair of Community SGE on LGPS 2014 proposals

Dear Kevin

Please present my apologies to today’s Community Service Group Executive (SGE) meeting on the proposed new Local Government Pension Scheme 2014.

I have a long standing family commitment.  I would however like to make a report to the SGE on what I believe to be the merits of the LGPS 2014 (England and Wales) proposals.

I will declare an interest. I am a member of the LGPS and have been for around 18 years. Three other members of my immediate family are also members of the LGPS and we are all dependent on the scheme for financial security in our old age. The scheme needs to be made sustainable to ensure this.

My branch carried out the consultative process of members about the proposed new scheme. Out of the 1400 members consulted the response was poor but all members who did respond were in favour of the new look 2014 scheme and no-one was in favour of taking industrial action against it. There is no appetite whatsoever in my branch, my service group nor (I understand) my region for any strike action on this issue. 

Why would there be? Since we should be celebrating LGPS 2014 as a significant victory for the Union and the labour movement! Brought about by collective campaigning, lobbying, mobilising and effective industrial action.

In many ways LGPS 2014 is actually an improvement for our members. Pension build up (accrual) will increase for all but 90% will pay the same or less. The existing final salary pension scheme discriminates against low paid women workers in favour of highly paid senior managers and Chief Executives. This is just wrong. Most members will do better under LGPS 2014 than 2008. Not only low paid women but nearly all part time workers and those who rely on non contractual bonuses and overtime to live on.  The 50/50 option will be a godsend to hard pressed members who due to cuts and pay freezes feel forced to leave the scheme.

In our Service Group (and others) the 2014 protection and extension of “Fair Deal” is absolutely crucial. Members being TUPE transferred will not have to accept 2nd class pensions schemes and will still be able to keep their LGPS pension if transferred again (and again). This requirement will also scare off the more blatant and obvious quick buck profiteers who don’t want to take on the responsibilities of a decent pensions scheme.  It will remain a world class guaranteed defined benefit scheme.

It’s a no brainer in my view. Let us support the LGPS 2014 in the forthcoming ballot and make this affordable and sustainable scheme a bench mark for all pensions for all workers. 

(Oh, and please forgive the miserablists. In the future they will be citing the success of the LGPS as an example of what you can achieve by industrial action)

Regards

John Gray
UNISON National Executive Council Member for Community & Voluntary sector.

UPDATE: LGPS 2014 endorsed overwhelmingly by SGE's see here

Of trots and trolls: My new followers

Oh dear - last week I had Jon of the Rogers becoming one of my followers on twitter (which was bad enough) but last night I had Big Bad Mikey Law becoming one as well!

While it is gratifying of course that they have seen the error of their ways and want to follow the forces of light and reason.

I do of course have my doubts about the sincerity of these conversions while on their road to nowhere.

Take a stand - Defend equality

Over the course of time we get used to it.

(Guest Post) “It” being a methodical onslaught on privileges (such as free comprehensive health care), freedoms (such as the freedom to live with the ones you love where ever they may come from in the world even if you earn less than £18,600 per year) and our rights.

Sometime last year the Government issued their now (in?) famous “Red Tape Challenge”. As part of this, one of the proposals was to repeal the Equality act 2010.

This suggestion prompted a deluge of responses from across the Country to leave the act alone. The act was brought in at the end of the last Labour Government after a tortuous amount of consultation and involvement stretching over years.

The new coalition government in their infinite wisdom started swiftly to make the changes by simply failing to implement sections of the Act (protection over Dual discrimination) http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/equality-act/faq/ and watering it down where they could (the move away for the requirement to equality impact assess policy changes to simply paying “due regard” to equality).

However on the 15th May this year, it seems clear that it was time to focus on our rights. Issuing a double whammy of two sets of consultations on repealing two sections of the equality act, removing equality act questionnaires and reconsidering and reviewing the Public Sector Equality Duty the proposals have explicit intention to scream out:

· Tribunals have no place in preventing future discrimination

· People making allegations of discrimination have no place demanding that they should be protected from harassment

· People making allegations of discrimination have no business asking for answers from their respondents before their day in court

· The Public Sector Equality Duty has no place in making sure that unfair and discriminatory decisions don’t take place.

The organisation I work for has set up a website for people in Northamptonshire to respond to the proposals here [http://defendequality.co.uk] but if you live outside Northamptonshire you can learn more about the proposals and find a suggested set of words to complain to the Government Equalities Office on both enforcement@geo.gsi.gov.uk and thirdpartyharassment@geo.gsi.gov.uk

Don’t forget to write to your local MP. You have until 7th August 2012 to take action. If you don’t ... you very well might regret it.

(Guest post by Anjona Roy: photo Kelly)

LGPS 2014 ballot - Vote YES to protect your future (& ignore the miserablists)

From UNISON eFocus today. There will be a ballot on the new proposed Local Government Pension Scheme 2014.

UNISON members who work for my employer and in my branch have voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the deal. This will keep a world class guaranteed pensions scheme for all and stop the discrimination of low paid women in favour of highly paid senior management and Chief Executives.

The ballot will start on 31 July and last until 24 August. You can also vote on-line.

While there are some who have genuine reservations about the proposal, there is also a miserablist opposition who are simply mischief making and doing all they can to distort and undermine the new scheme.

Through our arguments, campaigning and collective action we have defended the LGPS and retained a world class guaranteed defined benefit pension scheme. 

Some people simply don't know how to quit when they are ahead!

Daniel Zeichner - Labour PPC for Cambridge

Good news! Daniel Zeichner has been selected as the Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge at the next general election. The seat use to be Labour until 2005. Now held by Lib Dems.

Daniel is a national officer for UNISON Labour Link - seen in this photo (wearing grey jacket) running a very successful and innovative UNISON Computer telecanvass team during the May 2012 elections.

"Pensions, Pensions and more Pensions"

(This is an article I wrote last week for my Branch Stewards newsletter).

"Let’s face it. Many members probably consider Pensions to be a pretty boring issue and something that they would prefer to put off thinking about too much until another day (or preferably never). Well, whether you like it or not, in the coming months, all UNISON members and in fact nearly all employees will have to wake up and start thinking about pensions. 

For those of us in the Local Government Pension Scheme there is an ongoing consultation process at the moment by UNISON on a new look scheme. LGPS 2014 agreed last month with the unions, LGA employers and the Government. You will be balloted on the scheme at the end of the month. Have a look at what is being proposed on the UNISON website http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/lgps.asp

While members in the Social Housing Pension Scheme (Pensions Trust) will need to be aware that their employers have been sent letters about the deficits in their pension schemes which is causing some employers to panic and start talking of closing the scheme or massive increase in contributions. There has also been some outrageous scaremongering by some financial “advisors” to schemes. UNISON is arranging an urgent meeting with the Pensions Trust. In the meanwhile if your employers start talking of any changes to your pension scheme please contact the branch immediately and ask your employer to send us copies of what is being proposed.

Remember – the current pension so-called “deficits” are valued in a completely discredited and inaccurate manner which even the current Pensions minster has recognised is wrong and needlessly “killing” good pensions schemes. Remember closing a pension scheme does not get rid of any deficit - in fact it can make things worse.

Finally, for those of you who are not in the LGPS or SHPS please be aware that “auto-rolling” is kicking in at the end of this year. Nearly all employees who are currently not in a pension scheme will be automatically enrolled into the employer’s scheme or a state scheme.

Now this is “good news” for those not in a scheme but what we are concerned about is that some employers who currently have decently funded defined contribution schemes (also known as DC, Group personal pensions, Group Stakeholders, money purchase etc) may be tempted to cut existing employer contributions, since they are worried about an increase in the pension bill from more people being in it.

We have to fight this as well. Pensions are expensive. Employer’s have to realise that unless they want their staff to retire in poverty they have to fund pensions properly.

Pensions are obviously not boring nor are they as complicated as you think. We need to have at least one UNISON Pension Champion (or rep) in every employer. If you are interested in being a “Pension Champion” let the branch office know and we will sort out some training for you on the role in the very near future".

John Gray
Branch secretary

Woody Guthrie-This Land Is Your Land

Woody Guthrie birthday was July 14th as well! Hat tip Norm.

Bastille Day: "La Marseillaise" Red Army Choir