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Scotland in UNISON
Manchester 2011

 

National Delegate Conference 21-24 June 2011

Wednesday Briefing: Fighting the ‘tissue of lies’ on pensions

Scotland’s motion 21 leads off Comp B this morning on pensions. The motion lays out a 13 point plan of action with a cross service group pension campaign and a co-ordinated plan with other public sector trade unions.

The government’s strategy on pensions is clear. They want us to:

  • pay more
  • work longer
  • and get less when we retire.

We face a number of attacks on the Scottish pension schemes including: a change to the way pension increases are calculated - RPI to CPI - that has cut average pensions by at least 15%.

An increase in retirement age that doesn’t reflect the demands on many public service workers.

Abolishing pension protection for workers who are forced to transfer to another employer outside the public sector and changes to fund governance and cost sharing provisions with employers.

The motion calls for a coordinated campaign which should include legitimate industrial action in defence of our pensions.

As we know only too well the majority of public sector pensioners receive a pension of less than £5,000 and that half of the women in the NHS scheme receive less than £3,500.

That is why the action in Newcastle City’s part of Comp B calling for a campaign to address the public sector pension myths is important in raising awareness with the general public - and also with our own members.

As Dave Prentis said yesterday, “An attack on over 5 million workers - 20 million affected, all on a false premise. That our pensions are gold plated, unaffordable. A tissue of lies, misrepresentation. With the ink on our previous agreement barely dry.”

Scotland’s Stephanie Herd told Sunday’s Local Government Conference that UNISON will argue that the Scottish Government does not have to implement all of the UK plans. “Scottish schemes already have a progressive contribution scheme. Our funds are financially stable”, she said.

“We should be ready to build resistance against attacks that will only benefit the Tory toffs, not working people and our members young and old. “We need to be ready to fight. We will fight!”.

At Health Conference in April, delegates voted to join other UNISON colleagues and other unions to defend their pensions - including with industrial action if necessary.

While negotiations with central government continue, new national secretary for health Chritsina McAnea said, "we will hope for the best, but plan for the worst." "This is not a drill: it's the real thing."

And she added: "We won't be apologetic or defensive about defending our members' interests because what makes the NHS the prized service it is is the staff who make the miracle of the NHS happen every day”.

 

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