Unison local government pension ballot - Yes or No?

steven
Posts: 8 Joined: 31-08-06
Submitted by steven on 29 June, 2007 - 10:20.

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?

Quote:
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.

Spikymike
Posts: 240 Joined: 06-01-07
1 July, 2007 - 12:09

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.

catch "unpractical[sic] and blinkered"
Posts: 10024 Joined: 07-02-06 Location: London
1 July, 2007 - 12:26
steven wrote:
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

So for new starters they get exactly the same pension as existing members?

Quote:
Improved early retirement factors which cut the reduction to your pension if you choose to retire early

I can see how that'd get negotiated in so might be straightforward, although you might want to check how it works.

Quote:
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

What's the current employee contribution rate?
What's the current employer contribution? And the employer contribution in the new agreement?
It doesn't mention either, so looks to me like they've negotiated a slightly smaller increase in employee contribution in exchange for a lower employer contribution, which is conveniently not mentioned at all.

Quote:
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.

Statutory consultation - means fuck all except decision has been delayed as far as I can see.

catch "unpractical[sic] and blinkered"
Posts: 10024 Joined: 07-02-06 Location: London
1 July, 2007 - 12:29

OK looks like 6% now:

Quote:
You pay 6% of the pay you recieve for your contractual hours, unless you have a protected right to pay 5%.

the button "jesus christ, john, have you actually even read any marx?"
Posts: 5636 Joined: 07-07-04 Location: Lewisham, London
1 July, 2007 - 12:55

I always vote against any offer from the employer on principle, on the grounds that if they're offering it, they must be able to afford more. But that's the sort of infantile prick I am. embarrassed

steven
Posts: 8 Joined: 31-08-06
1 July, 2007 - 13:06
the button wrote:
I always vote against any offer from the employer on principle, on the grounds that if they're offering it, they must be able to afford more. But that's the sort of infantile prick I am. embarrassed

To be honest, that seems like a good general principle!

Lazy Riser "Orvillite Allegory"
Posts: 4964 Joined: 06-05-05
1 July, 2007 - 13:45

I take a similar approach as button, although in the public sector what "they" can afford isn't as simple as the comrade’s implying. Also, this time around, we have the added bonus of voting against the union’s recommendations. Having said that, I expect it’ll go to a “Yes”. It’s impossible to fund final salary pensions without either ramping up contributions to outrageous levels or taking control of the banking system. Whatever outcome, LGPS pensions will be paid for through increased outsourcing, higher taxation and bigger contributions. I’m still half expecting Cameron to buy out people in the LGPS using a cash lump sum and a stakeholder pension. “Right to buy” all over again, those lump sums will dent mortgage payments and encourage people to chase opportunities elsewhere.