If you are a member - or eligible to be a member - of the Local
Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), you and 829,000 other UNISON
members will soon receive a ballot paper asking you to vote
for strike action over cuts to the Local Government Pension
Scheme (LGPS).
These proposals don't only affect people working in local government,
but also in housing associations, higher and further education,
the police, fire and rescue services, probation, the environment
agency, the meat hygiene service, passenger transport executives
and in some private companies and the voluntary sector.
We are taking this step as government has decided to abolish
the Rule of 85', which allows LGPS members whose age and service
total 85 to retire at 60 with an unreduced pension.
Only LGPS members age 53 before 1 April 2006 will be offered
any protection of their rights under the Rule of 85.
We are balloting all eligible UNISON members in England, Wales,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland between 20 February and 10 March
on strike action. Your support and your YES vote are essential
so we can protect our pensions.
If you have not received your ballot paper, and think
you are eligible to vote, please call 0845 355 0845 immediately.
Requests for ballot papers must be received by 4pm on Monday
6 March. Please complete your ballot paper and return it as
SOON as you receive it.
Ballot papers should be returned to REACH no later than
noon, Friday 10 March.
