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Pensions campaign latest
11
January 2012: Scottish pensions Bulletin No
29 - January 2012
Pensions - next stage in Scotland
Local government
Health
STUC Pensions Justice campaign
Industrial action
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."
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March and Rally 30
November Strike Day. 11.30, Johnston Terrace,
marching to Scottish Parliament Click
here for more rally details across Scotland
Ballot
turnout: What's good for the Lib Dem goose...
(5/11/11 on the unofficial UNISONActive
blog)
UNISON
members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of
strike action to protect their pensions. Click
here for details
More questions answered
Will a one-day strike save our pensions?
The one day strike is a start. General Secretary
Dave Prentis has been clear that it will take
more than that but it will be a carefully planned
strategy. The one day is an essential kick-off
to this.
The key element is that a yes vote will give
our negotiators more strength. The Government
so far has not been taking talks seriously.
A Yes Vote would mean:
- We send a powerful message to government
- We show solidarity with all public sector
unions balloting or preparing for industrial
action on November 30th
- We give negotiators new strength to support
our demands
Is there a ready-reckoner to see how much
I'll lose out of my pension?
It is difficult to show calculations for pension
because people's situations vary. But some figures
are clear....
Less benefits due to RPI to CPI move:
Because of the change from RPI to CPI, the average
public service pensioner loses £117 a
year and that is cumulative. Even Lord Hutton
conceded there would be a 15% loss in benefits.
Career Average instead of Final Salary:
Plans to move to a 'career average' pension
instead of final salary could see a huge drop
in your pension. That involves:
- Step 1 - Earn % of salary as pension for
each year you work
- Step 2 Then re-valued every year until
you retire by a specified Index Hutton recommended
average wages
- Step 3 Add up all the re-valued pots
at retirement and this is your final pensionable
pay that is used to calculate your pension.
To get roughly equal to what people get now,
the pension would have to accrue at about 1/55th
of salary. Currently the Scottish scheme accrues
at 1/60th. The government plans suggest somewhere
beteween 1/65th of salary to 1/100th meaning
much less in retirement while paying much more.
Work longer, pay more and get less!
Pension age increases on top mean you'll pay
more, work longer and get less!
Plus: If you are in the groups
facing the 3% rise in contributions on the average
6% people pay, it actually means 50%. If you
currently pay £100 a month, you would
have to stump up another £50 - and that
will not even go into the pension fund, it will
go straight to the government! (This does not
apply at this stage to Local Government in Scotland)
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