Right well the timetable's out for the ballot on whether to accept the LGPS deal Unison has negotiated.
They are recommending a yes vote - below is their email.
Our branch isn't recommending a yes - but TBH I can't remember what the points of contention were, and unison's email is just saying the new deal is all brilliant. where are the concessions to the employers in here, anyone know? Should I recommend No votes?
LGPS Ballot Timetable Announced
The LGPS consultation ballot timetable has now been confirmed. The ballot will open on the 2 July 2007 - when ballot papers will start to be sent to members’ homes - and will close on the 23 July 2007.UNISON is recommending a YES vote in the ballot. Through a combination of hard negotiations and your tough campaigning we have secured real improvements within the new LGPS. Given the pressure from Government and employers to cut benefits and increase costs at the start of the campaign, no one could have predicted such improvements at the start of this campaign over two years ago. Key ones are:
Retention of a final salary pension – despite Government pressure for a ‘career average’ scheme and the closure of 75% of final salary schemes to new members across the UK
A better accrual rate of 1/60 , rather than 1/80 - meaning our pensions will build up faster
Improved early retirement factors which cut the reduction to your pension if you choose to retire early
Partners’ pensions for all, backdated to April 1988 for unmarried partners
Better death in service and death in retirement benefits
No two-tier scheme - meaning all existing members can benefit from the improvements from 1 April 2008 – unlike elsewhere in the public sector
An average employee contribution rate of 6.3%, rather than the 7% the Government and employers wanted - and lower than both the NHS and Civil Service schemes
In addition we have also campaigned for and won a statutory consultation on extending full protection under the Rule of 85 in England and Wales to 2020.Getting the Vote Out
We need to ensure as many members as possible vote in the LGPS ballot. A ballot paper and accompanying materials explaining the new scheme will be sent to members’ home addresses. In addition we have produced the following materials which will be bulk mailed to all branches in time for the ballot:
Vote YES leaflets
Vote YES posters
Vote YES stickers
Branches will be able to order further supplies of these materials if you need them. (Further details in the next issue of Campaign News).Stewards have a key role to play in ensuring members vote in the ballot. So please distribute the ballot materials widely and speak to as many people as possible about UNISON’s success in the LGPS campaign.
Can comment on articles and discussions
Well the Union deal is better than what the government originally tried to foist on us but the long term drift is still downhill. The partners issue is finally being resolved for instance but was on the cards anyway, but then it looks like most of us will be paying more into the pension at the same time as we are being sqeezed on pay.
Also note that the transitional measures to protect long service staffs is still not agreed. The Union is arguing that this is not connected to agreement on the new pension arrangements, but how can that be!
I had a bit of an argument with our Unison stewards about this. Eventually in exasperation I said ''so if we are concerned about the absense of the transitional deal we should vote against this as well?'' and he said '' you could see it that way' so I throw that into the discussion.
The problem as usual is that the Union tries to compatmentalise all the issues knowing that different sections of the workers have different priorities (young and old, men and women, northand south etc.)
They would also dearly like to give Gordan and their mates in the LP a bit of a break.