Yes, that’s all of us.
Big thanks to the schools and other workplaces that have already rung in and emailed this office to say they’re going to shut down on the 28th
What is your workplace doing?
Let us know if you’re organising to picket your workplace in the morning – we have the official placards and armbands, plus leaflets and a copy of the do’s and don’ts to send you.
We’re planning lunch-time rallies in Barnstaple, Exeter and Newton Abbot.
Watch this space for where and when and who will be speaking.
Big thanks to the schools and other workplaces that have already rung in and emailed this office to say they’re going to shut down on the 28th
What is your workplace doing?
Let us know if you’re organising to picket your workplace in the morning – we have the official placards and armbands, plus leaflets and a copy of the do’s and don’ts to send you.
We’re planning lunch-time rallies in Barnstaple, Exeter and Newton Abbot.
Watch this space for where and when and who will be speaking.
We’ll be lobbying one of the Government’s Ministers of State whose remit is pensions when he comes to a conference in Exeter.
Look for our mail-out to every home which should arrive with you this Wednesday. Get together at work and spread the word. Don’t let the Government win. Do you want to spend your retirement feeling “If only….”?
Dave Prentis, our General Secretary, has called on every member balloted to respond to our strike call. We need to show the Government and the Local Government Association that our members in the LGPS deserve more respect.
Solidarity is the name of the game
If the Government and the LGA think they can get away with this attack on our pension scheme, then worse will follow. They are already talking about dismantling national pay bargaining. They want to reduce our sick pay and car allowances. If they think they can cut our pensions and get away with it, then they won’t waste any time getting rid of your other rights. So make sure you join the strike on 28 March.
All we are saying is give us the same….
All we want is equal treatment to every other public sector pension scheme member. All existing members of the police, armed forces, fire fighters, teachers, civil service and NHS pension schemes will have their existing rights protected as new schemes are developed for the future. Why not LGPS members? The Government says we are different because we are a ‘funded’ scheme. But all that means is that your pension contribution generates funding of scheme benefits.
Last year 28% of the funding of the LGPS came from investment income from your contributions. So it is only different because it saves the Government, employers and the tax payer money compared to all the other schemes!! And because the other schemes generally have more favourable benefits overall than the LGPS. That’s no reason to hand out even worse treatment.
Support from employers and councils growing
More and more employers, and many councils, have told us that they do not want the proposed changes. 19 Police Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Police Superintendents Association have expressed their disquiet about the two-tier pension arrangements that will apply in the police service in future if the Government and the LGA have their wicked way. Three major LGPS funds have said that they don’t want extra money because they’ll have to hand it back in Corporation Tax!
There will also be a two-tier situation in schools, some Primary Care Trusts, universities and colleges and other public services where LGPS members work alongside employees in the other public sector pension schemes. Let’s tell the Government and the LGA that we really have had enough of being the public sector’s poor relations!
Not in the LGPS?
If you’re not an LGPS member, but have been balloted, you can still strike. It will be lawful. We know that some members have not joined because their hours and/or pay are too low. Others on temporary contracts or in the private and voluntary sectors have never been asked to join. However, you might want to join in the future and UNISON wants to make sure that the future scheme gives a better deal to low paid members and part-time workers. We need you with us to be able to get into those negotiations, by having existing rights protected.
Which other unions are involved?
The GMB, TGWU, UCATT, Amicus, Napo, CYWU, NUT, NUJ, AEP and NIPSA are all balloting their members in workplaces covered by the LGPS. Last week General Secretary, Dave Prentis, and the other General Secretaries of most of these unions, gave a press conference announcing an average ‘yes’ vote of 80% across all of these unions. That means that the 28 march strike will be the biggest one in UK trade union history. So make sure you’re present on a historic day.
Negotiations continue
We will continue to negotiate hard for a fair settlement of this dispute. We have employed a firm of independent City actuaries – AON – to help us. They have shown that there is more than enough money generated by the proposed changes to the LGPS to protect existing members and make improvements to the future scheme. We have had two meetings of the Tripartite Committee over the last two weeks and met with the Government and LGPS actuaries. We believe that we have established our case for equal treatment. It is now for the Government and the LGA to do the right thing. We have been forced to take strike action as a last resort.
ALL OUT ON 28 MARCH FOR A FAIR DEAL ON OUR PENSION
