National Delegate Conference 19-22 June
2007
No to pensions contaminated by the blood of others
UNISON will call for an end to investment in the arms trade by
pensions funds The Conference debate heard how huge the investment
by pension funds is in the arms trade.
All but a few LGPS pension funds hold shares in armaments companies.
UNISON will call for the removal of government subsidies to arms
companies pointing out that these companies employ less than 0.02%
of the UK workforce.
UNISON will mount training for pension fund reps on social, environmental
and ethical investment to maximise our bargaining strength on pension
fund boards. As a start, UNISON's staff pension fund has successfully
screened out any investment in the arms trade and that ensuring
ethical investment was a long term project.
Marie Macrae, Fife Local Government Branch, backing the motion,
said "The issue of pensions, their protection and performance is
a thorny one, one that cannot be ignored nor be taken lightly. It
is clear just by looking at me that this is an impending event for
me and there are a few more like me, I dare say."
"We know that our pension managers have a legal responsibility
to ensure that the schemes perform well financially but we also
know that there is a clear moral responsibility to do it ethically.
I don't want to receive a pension contaminated by the blood of others.
Do you?"
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