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Pensions

last updated 24/01/2012

Update on Pensions‏

Please find below a report from UNISON HQ regarding the position on the pension’s dispute. In addition the UNISON Service Group Executive which deals specifically with the LGPS endorsed this position 24 to 10 at a separate meeting later in the day.
This position is contrary to that taken by your elected stewards at the Branch Committee last week, when it was felt that the ‘heads of agreement’ had conceded too much given the fantastic support on 30th November.
However, as the report below makes clear whilst negotiations continue we are still in a formal dispute and industrial action could resume if progress is not made. It is important that we continue to build the union by recruiting and organising. It will not have gone unnoticed by the employers covered by the Branch and Bolton Council in particular, that UNISON members in Bolton fully supported the action on 30th November and will do so again if necessary.
I would welcome member comments on the current situation.

Regards
Bernie Gallagher
Branch Secretary

 

Pensions summit report 10.1.11

"We will carry on negotiating over pensions - because that's what we do as a trade union and because it's what our members want. But at the same time - we are still in dispute and our industrial action ballot is still valid for further action if needed.'

That was the clear message which came across at this morning's third UNISON pensions summit, before the service group executive meetings to consider the current state of negotiations and agree the way forward.

The summit, which brought together more than 250 key activists from every region and relevant service group, reviewed the successful day of action on 30 November, and the progress it had achieved.

"We took industrial action for industrial reasons," general secretary Dave Prentis recalled of the day he called the proudest of his union life.

"UNISON was the lynch pin of the action," he added, "and we did it because negotiations had broken down - the government was saying that it would move to impose changes."

But the strength of the action had seen the government back down, returning to the table and negotiating properly.

In the NHS Pension Scheme, this had resulted in an outline for future negotiations and in the Local Government Pensions Scheme, the withdrawal of statutory consultations on changes to contribution and accrual rates for April 2012 and government acceptance of a negotiating framework which will see no changes until 2014.

And in both schemes, a key advance since 30 November is the agreement to keep the Fair Deal on pensions, including 'admitted body status in the LGPS, which means public service pensions will be available for all public service workers, even if their jobs are outside the public sector - as is the case with 25% of current LGPS members.

The decision facing the union now was whether to continue with those negotiations, said Mr Prentis.

"This is not D Day," he pointed out. "It's not a day we're being asked to decide a settlement and call off action."

As a member-led union, negotiating to secure decent pension schemes for public service workers, UNISON will continue talking to get the best and fullest details in any proposals.

And it will be UNISON members, through ballots, who will decide if any proposals are acceptable.

In the meantime, UNISON is still in dispute and the industrial action ballot from November remains 'live' and Mr Prentis added: "If negotiations fail or break down as they did in September, we can still take action."

The summit also heard report-backs from the consultations that have been taking place in every region of the union since the new year and the 'heads of agreement' proposals received just before Christmas.

In every region, the summit heard, the feedback had been that the majority of branches and members backed continuing negotiations.

There are still many problems to overcome, UNISON activists recognised, but Mr Prentis summed up the mood of the meeting when he declared: "We are not defeatist. We know how to win by taking our members with us.

"If our objective is decent pensions schemes for public service workers, we will achieve it.

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Press Release

06/01/12

Representatives of Bolton’s biggest trade union branch, Bolton UNISON are backing calls to reject a revised government offer on public service pensions.

At a meeting at Bolton Town Hall on Wednesday 4th January, around 50 representatives from across Bolton Council, Bolton at Home and local colleges unanimously voted to oppose the current government pension’s offer and call for further strike action. Matt Kilsby, Bolton Unison Branch Chair said, “Our members do not want to work longer, pay more and get less in retirement. We cannot allow this government to get away with stealing £900 million from Local Government Pensions. We are saying loud and clear that the current offer is unacceptable and that our union must reject it.”

Bolton Branch delegates attended a Unison North West meeting on Thursday 5th January to discuss the strike action on 30th November and the future of the pensions dispute. A packed meeting room heard the Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield deliver a detailed presentation of theproposals. National meetings will be now held on Tuesday 10th January in London to decide whether or not to endorse these proposals as the basis for further negotiations.

Bolton Unison represents 6,000 public service workers in Bolton including Housing Officers, School Support Staff, Refuse Collectors, Library Staff, Social Workers, Care Workers & Admin Workers.

Martin Challender
Communications Officer
Bolton UNISON

Pensions Webpage

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Do you know the real pension facts?

1. If closed today the LGPS could still pay all its liabilities for 20 years
2. The Treasury gets £2bn more in NHS pension contributions than it pays out in benefits pa
3. The average Local Government pension is £4,000 pa - hardly gold plated!
4. The average NHS pension is £7,000 per annum - again hardly gold plated!
5. Half of NHS women pensioners receive less than £3,500 per annum
6. The bosses of Britain's largest companies have an average pension 29 times bigger than the average public sector pension

UNISON's Protect our Pensions campaign
Pensions Webpage

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Unison Strike Day Deductions and Hardship Fund

Pay deduction for most staff (excluding Bolton @ Home) is due to be deducted from January’s salary on the 18th January 2012.
Wage slips and online users usually have sight of their pay slips before this date.
Unison members who wish to apply to the Hardship Fund can do so on production of proof of salary deduction. Please read the explanation notes, complete the form and produce supporting evidence.
The relevant paper work can then be submitted to Bolton Branch either in person or by post.
The Hardship fund committee are scheduled to meet on Wednesday 18th January to commence processing and authorising payments. These meetings will take place on a regular basis to ensure your claim is dealt with promptly. Cheques will be dispatched at the end of each committee meeting.
Please note the hardship payment is just that and not simply replacing the day pay or hours lost and cannot exceed the amount lost through taking Industrial Action.
You can also request a claim pack from the branch to be sent to your home address.

Andrea Egan
Assistant Branch Secretary
01204 338901

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UNISON There For You - Winter Fuel Grants Programme‏

With rising fuel costs affecting many UNISON members, There For You starts the new year with the launch of its Winter Fuel Grants programme.
Grants of up to £50 per household are available to members on low income. Apply by completing the attached application form.
You can also request to have a copy of the form posted to you by ringing 020 7121 5620. If you do not have access to a printer, please come along to the Branch Office to obtain a copy.
Please note that this is a limited fund (conditions apply) with grants of up to £50 available to members on low income (net household income less than £18,000pa excluding Child Benefit and Disability Living Allowance). Applications must be received by 29 February 2012, whilst decisions will be made and grants issued between 1st and 31st March.

NB. Completed application forms should be returned to:
UNISON Welfare, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY

Matt Kilsby
Membership Officer
UNISON Bolton Branch

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Cheaper gas prices now‏

 

Have you noticed the global price of gas has dropped recently?
[1] Probably not - the prices we pay for gas and electricity are still at record levels and have risen six times faster than household incomes since 2004.
[2] There are nearly a million 38 Degrees members. If enough of us get involved we can drive down gas and electricity bills for everyone.

Companies are always eager to pass on price hikes. But too often when the wholesale price falls, our bills stay sky-high. Is this just the mysterious way the markets work? Or is it profiteering? We need to act fast to force them to pass this price cut on to us, their customers.

Help shame the energy companies into passing the price cut on to their customers - sign the petition now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-energy-rip-off

A huge petition could shift the energy companies' thinking. They'll know that the public is losing patience with them. They’ll be risking even more bad publicity. And they'll know every signature is a customer or potential customer. So let's make this petition huge!

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FAO of Female Unison Members

Do you want to take part in a women, work and menopause survey?. The information is arranged with the demographics first, then about your work, how you are feeling and last about your experiences of menopause. The survey will look at women across the menopausal stage, i.e. during and after menopause has occurred.

Here is the link to the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H8TJDZT

UNISON is working closely with the TUC who are involved in this area of research

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SUPPORT THE UNILEVER WORKERS PENSIONS DISPUTE

2,500 members of GMB, UNITE & USDAW are set to strike at Unilever, one of the UK’s most profitable companies.

Unilever plans to end the current final salary pension scheme. It is estimated that the proposed changes would cost the average Unilever worker 20% of their retirement income – for many workers it will be much more.

A 12 day programme of rolling industrial action is due to start today, 17th January. Workers at sites across the UK will be involved, hitting production of many household brands including PG Tips, Walls Ice Cream, Pot Noodles, Comfort and Dove.

It is worth noting that, paradoxically, the company founder of Unilever was Bolton businessman and philanthropist Lord Leverhulme who, contrary to today’s bosses, campaigned for workers’ pensions.

Messages of support:
Please email: william.hodgson@unilever.com or ian.swift@unilever.com

Picket lines:
a) Warrington Factory, 2 Liverpool Rd, Warrington, Cheshire WA5 1AA
Wednesday 18th Jan from 6.00am for approx 48hrs

b) Trafford Park Factory, Trafford Park Rd, Trafford, M17 1NH
Thursday 19th Jan from 21.50pm for approx 24 hrs

Please check GMB website for further details.

Martin Challender,
Bolton TUC

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NEC by election Local Government female seat

Ballot papers have now been distributed to UNISON members eligible to vote in this election. Ballot papers started to go out 9th January 2012

The candidates in this election are: Lynn Poulton and Phoebe Watkins

Bolton UNISON Branch Committee unanimously voted to support Phoebe Watkins

Ballot Helpline

• If individual members have not received a paper by 17 January 2012, then they should contact the ballot helpline operated by UNISON direct, on the following telephone number: 0845 355 0845
• Lines are open from 6am to midnight Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 9am to 4pm. Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.
• Members should endeavour to have their membership number to hand when telephoning.
• The latest point at which members can request a ballot paper is 12 noon on 7 February 2012.
• Please note that the ballot helpline can only deal with queries from individual members. If branches believe there is a wide-scale problem with receipt of ballot papers amongst their members (for instance if whole departments or geographical areas have not received ballot papers) then the branch should contact their regional office.

Close of ballot and result

• The deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the Independent Scrutineer is 5pm on Friday 10 February 2012.
• The result will be available on 5 March 2012 and the successful candidate will take office immediately.

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Dear All,

As you are now hopefully aware, Unison is organising a social for 10th February. To clarify some misunderstanding’s, this is not a romantic evening of fun and frolics!, this is a fundraising event, were we will be able to enjoy some food and drinks, some music, games, fun and most importantly some Fundraising opportunities for Unison Welfare. This is an event were, couples, singles, and families can come along and hopefully have an evening with friends and fellow activists. It is not often as activists and members of a trade unions that we get the opportunity to relax and have some down time, alongside giving the opportunity for our members to come along.

It was merely called the valentines disco as it was close to valentines, so please put this event in your diaries and join us on what are usually well attended fun events. Even if you only wish to attend for an hr or so.

We are wanting to run a tombola, Have you got any unwanted gifts from Christmas, unwanted tins of biscuits or chocolates??

Please drop them off at the office or let us know you have something to donate.

Best wishes,
Andrea Egan
Assistant Branch Secretary

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In this Edition

Unions to Resist Regional Pay Claims
Pension 'Heads of Agreement' The Details
Florence Hill Retires
Read All About It

December Edition...
Gold Plated Hypocrites
Pension Tax Relief Scandal
A fantastic Day of Action, what do we do next?
Read It Here

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Training needs survey‏

Bolton Unison’s Life Long Learning Officers, David Milne and Sue Vickers, would like to get the views of Unison Members in Bolton on their Training/Learning needs. follow the link below and answer a few short questions.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/unisonlearningneeds

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Edinburgh halts privatisation plan

UNISON has welcomed Edinburgh council's decision to keep vital city services in house, instead of privatising them. The full council voted for a joint Labour-SNP amendment, with Green Party backing, which overturned a proposal by the ruling Lib Dem and Conservative coalition to award a contract for integrated facilities management to private bidder Mitie. More

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More Details

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Regional Courses 2012
Application Form

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