STUC Pensions site with updates on events and action

More information and resources on the UNISON UK site, including....

•UK Pensions Home Page
•Overview
•Documents
•Local Government Pension Scheme
•NHS Pension Scheme
•Other pension schemes
•Women's pensions

There comes a time to say enough is enough Dave Prentis addresses TUC on pensions strike 14 Sep
Click here to download video (Windows media file 30.4MB)

Pensions campaign latest

March 2013: Scottish Pensions Bulletin No 36 - March 2013
LGPS Negotiations Update
The main change is that the new scheme must be a defined benefit ‘career average’ (CARE) scheme as final salary schemes will be unlawful.

7 Feb 2013: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 35 - Feb 2013
Framework for LGPS Negotiations
Should the UK Public Service Pensions Bill be passed as currently drafted, the current Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) will close in April 2015 and a new scheme negotiated. This will be heavily prescribed by the provisions of the Public Service Pensions Bill. This bulletin covers:

• Career Average (CARE) scheme
• Retirement age
• Cost sharing
• Other issues of scheme
• Next steps
• Governance

30 November 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 34 - Nov 2012

• Pensions Bill statement in Scottish Parliament
• Scottish Local Government Pensions schemes

November 2012: Public Service Pensions Bill - email campaign
Contact your MP and MSPs direct by email now - click here - to lobby for amendments to the Bill which will will leave Scottish public service pension schemes free to design a scheme that meets Scottish requirements.

6 November 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 33 - Nov 2012

• Public Service Pensions Bill
• Pensions Bill Lobby
• Model letters to MPs and MSPs

8 October 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 32 - Oct 2012

• UK Public Service Pensions Bill
• Pensions Champions Meeting Glasgow 31 October
• Scottish Local Government Pensions Advisory Group (SLOGPAG)
  
• Data Protection

12 July 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 31 - July 2012

• Scottish Government challenges Treasury on pension reform
• NHS - Scottish negotiations continuing
• Local Government
  - LGPS scheme in Scotland
  - New English LGPS
  - Contribution bands
  - Police and Fire staff
  
• Pensions Auto-Enrolment

PLUS Comparison chart - Scottish LGPS / England & Wales LGPS

4 June 2012 LGPS 2014 England and Wales only Negotiations completed: http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/lgps.asp Please note that this applies to England and Wales only. The LGPS scheme in Scotland has an agreed cost sharing process to address future costs and there will be no contribution increases in the coming financial year. This means discussions in Scotland will continue under the terms of the 2008 agreement. No dates have been set for discussions on long term reform in the LGPS Scotland. See the latest Scotland bulletin here

More UK pensions updates

18 May 2012: Negotiations start on NHS Scotland pensions

17 April 2012: UNISON supports annulment call on changes to NHS pension scheme MSPs urged to stop pensions 'tax' on health workers 17 April

31 March: Scottish ministers agreed to talks starting on 28 March over medium and long-term changes to the NHS Pension Scheme. But they have made it clear that they are not prepared to negotiate over the first year contribution increases, and regulations to implement them has been tabled in the Scottish Parliament.

27 March: UNISON NHS action photos

26 March: UNISON protesters lobby Scottish Parliament as industrial action
over NHS pensions continues:

19 March 2012: MSP Briefing on NHS Pensions Regulations - March 2011
UNISON Scotland urges MSPs to reject regulations laid before Scottish Parliament which impose increased contributions on health workers, and calls on the Scottish Government to enter into meaningful negotiations to stop the pensions tax.

15 March 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 30 - March 2012

• NHS Pensions dispute
• Local government pensions
• Contracting out rebates fall from April
• Watch out for dodgy deals on pensions
• Retirement age

13 March 2012:
Reports and pictures from new round of action by NHS Scotland workers

March 2012

12 March 2012: UNISON increases pressure on Scottish government with new industrial action on NHS pensions
UNISON Scotland will on Tuesday 13 March kick off a new round of industrial action on NHS pensions. A number of selective strikes are planned to increase pressure on the government for a Scottish solution to all aspects of pensions changes. This includes the year 1 increases to employee contributions of up to 2.4% - which are effectively a pensions tax on health workers.

UNISON health members in the Central De-Contamination Unit at Ayrshire Central Hospital Irvine will be taking industrial action on the issue of pensions on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 March 2012. A picket line will be in force each day from 9am until 12 noon.

2 March 2012: UNISON protesters lobby Health Minister as Scotland launches further industrial action on pensions: UNISON Scotland will on Monday 5 March launch a further round of industrial action on changed proposed to NHS pensions.

February 2012

3 February 2012: NHS Superannuation Scheme Scotland Consultation | Employee Contribution Rate Increases |Draft Amendment Regulations Feb 2012

January 2012

11 January 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 29 - January 2012

10 January 2012: Pensions negotiations - update from UK summit

UNISON members give green light to pensions negotiations - see UK news release
UNISON activists have voted to give the union’s negotiators the green light to continue discussions with government ministers on changes to public sector pensions.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary said: “We will continue to campaign to secure the best possible deal, which our members will then be consulted on. Should negotiations fail, our industrial action ballot, which remains live, gives us the option to take more strike action.”

Convener calls for 'distinct Scottish solution' - see UNISON Scotland press release
UNISON Scottish Convener Lillian Macer said: "As the Scottish Government has the responsibility to address these issues in Scotland we call upon Scottish Ministers to explore a distinct Scottish solution for the public service workforce."

December 2011

19 Dec: Health pensions - UNISON response (UK press release)

19 Dec: Local Govt briefing (England and Wales) No change before 2014

Dec 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 28 - December 2011

November 2011

£300 million more being paid into Scottish Local Government pensions than going out “Cutting pensions to pay for bankers is neither fair nor justifiable - says largest public services union 27 November

November 30 Strike Day Rally Details (STUC website)

Pensions Dispute: Click here for Frequently Asked Questions

Strike for Pensions Justice on Nov 30 - Latest pensions bulletin (pdf)

Scottish pensions Bulletin No 27 - November 2011
Strike for Pensions Justice on Nov 30

17 Nov 2011: NHS Scotland Pension Contribution Increases: A UNISON Scotland response to the Scottish Government consultation paper: National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) – Employee contribution increases Nov 2011

Ballot turnout: What's good for the Lib Dem goose...
(5/11/11 on the unofficial UNISONActive blog)

UNISON members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to protect their pensions.

3 November 2011: A joint meeting of six service group executives on the outcome of UNISON's public sector pension ballots today in London. Strike action on 30 November was unanimously endorsed.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON said: "The decisive yes vote in the ballot, reflects the deep concern that our members have over Government ministers proposals for their pensions.

"Yesterday's statement in Parliament was a marked improvement on earlier proposals.

"But, it is important to understand that the statement has to be translated into offers in the scheme specific talks. We still have had no offer in those negotiations, where such an offer can legitimately be made.

"We support the TUC day of action on 30 November, but will be negotiating right up to then and beyond to get a fair deal for our members."

Senior lay officials of the union are meeting throughout the afternoon to discuss the latest Government statement on pensions and to decide what action to take as a result of the strike ballot.

October 2011
Latest pensions presentations 3 October

Pensions Briefing for LGPS Branches
Oct 2011 Powerpoint presentation 1.75MB

Pensions Briefing for Health Branches
Oct 2011 Powerpoint presentation 1.83MB

September 2011
Scottish pensions Bulletin No 26 - September 2011
Vote YES to protect your pension.
Bulletin includes Pensions Ballot information and campaign materials 28 September

• Look out for your ballot paper asking you to vote for industrial action to protect your pension - your retirement is at stake.
• We are asking you to vote YES because proposed changes to your pension scheme simply aren’t fair.
  

Pensions Leaflets and Poster in PDF format:

Vote YES - Scottish LGPS branch leaflet
http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/20378.pdf

Vote YES - NHS branch leaflet
http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/20352.pdf

Vote YES - poster
http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/20354.pdf

Update - 23 September 2011
UNISON has today lodged a dispute with Scottish Ministers, CoSLA and the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions over changes to the Local Government Pensions Scheme (Scotland).

Scottish pensions Bulletin No 25 - September 2011
Scottish Government start talks on pensions 5 September

August 2011

New short powerpoint for briefing members on main pensions issues: From the Communications and Campaigns Committee August 2011 plus Speakers Notes

July 2011

North East Pensions Rally Mike Kirby says pension scheme members face a "double, double whammy". 15 July

July 2011: NEW - Protect our Pensions leaflet

The UK government strategy is clear.They want us to PAY MORE, WORK LONGER AND GET LESS when we retire.

However, pension regulation is devolved to the Scottish Parliament - so MSPs have a choice to make. UNISON is calling on the Scottish Government to reject the UK plans and protect quality pensions in Scotland.

Our pensions are affordable. Get the facts. Download our new pensions leaflet.

June 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 24 - June 2011

22 June 2011:
Public service pensions contributions - UNISON briefing to MSPs
UNISON Scotland's briefing for MSPS in advance of the Cabinet Secretary's statement to the Scottish Parliament on 22 June (pdf)

June 2011:
Branch Pensions Champions and Pensions Contacts - get registered online at www.unison.org.uk/pensions/pop_involved.asp if you haven't already. Or email Loraine Bartlett l.bartlett@unison.co.uk

Pensions Champions training day in July 2011:
If you have signed up as a Champion and couldn't manage to attend the courses in May and June, there's another chance to get trained up
13th July : Glasgow office

Sign up for Scottish pensions training courses by emailing Loraine Bartlett l.bartlett@unison.co.uk

Pensions Champions training materials:
Powerpoint presentation for Champions and Contacts training course
Click here (2MB download)

May 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 23 - May 2011

Pensions Champions training days in May/June 2011:
23rd May : Glasgow
27th May : Edinburgh
1st June : Aberdeen

Indexing Pension Increases – RPI to CPI
The UK Government is changing the indexing of public sector pension increases each
year from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The effect of the change is likely to cut pension benefits by at least 15%.

...more in bulletin

April 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 22 - April 2011
Pensions Campaign: Getting Organised

Mar 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 21 - March 2011
Hutton report: summary analysis and organising in reponse

Mar 2011: Hutton Report - recommendations and Scottish commentary
UNISON's Dave Watson looks at Hutton's 27 recommendations

March 2010: Fight back for public sector pensions

New campaigning material based on Briefing No 228 Public Sector Pensions (pdf) March 2010

Glossy 4 page A4 document with recruitment form on back PDF

Glossy A4 leaflet with recruitment form on back PDF

Scottish Pensions Bulletin No 13 - Oct 2009

Scottish Pensions Bulletin No 12 - Aug 2009

23/7/09: Executive pension report - exposes pensions apartheid between fat cats and low paid workers (UK press release)

March 2009: Pensions divide between rich and poor UNISON Scottish Secretary Matt Smith argues that the real pensions divide is not between the public and private sector, but between rich directors and poor workers - Scotland on Sunday article, 29 March 2009

February 2009

Briefing 198: Pensions Research Update February 2009 Recent research highlighting the real pension divide that exists between company directors and their workers

Real pension divide is between bosses and staff - UNISON
News release 27/2/09

December 2008: Pensions, it’s down to us As the politicians and the press gang up on the attack, who will defend our public service pensions? We will! says JANE CAROLAN (from Scotland in UNISON Issue 76 - December 2008)

Click here for pensions archive 2004-2008