City of Stoke on Trent Unison

New Local Government Pension Scheme 2014

suejones — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:32:54 +0000

This joint communications update includes an update on progress including a series of objectives which need to be agreed following consultation with the membership – LGPS_PoP Campaign 12

Currently the project is gathering data in order to inform the discussions around the various options for the scheme including commissioning actuaries and setting up working groups.

Remember that whilst the project continues – no changes will be made to the scheme which is, and will continue to be aftet the project is complete, one of the best ways available ensure a decent income in retirement.

Lighthouse Financial Surgeries For Branch Members Faced With Redundancy

suejones — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:17:18 +0000

The branch have organised a series of financial surgeries for members who are faced with redundancy, in conjunction with Lighthouse Financial Advice .

The surgeries will take place on Wednedays 15 Feb, 14 March, 18 April and 16 May 2012 in Stoke.

Appointments need to be made direct with Lighthouse Financial Advice – details of which are on the poster - Lighthousefinancialsurgery

Unison AGM 8 March 2012

suejones — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:22:26 +0000

The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 8 March 2012 at 5.30 pm in the Jubilee Hall, Civic Centre.

This will be preceded by a buffet tea at 4.45pm.

If you are a member of this branch and would like to order food, please e-mail the branch office, stating your name, department and workplace location.

Reports for the meeting are as follows:

Agenda – 8MARCH2012AGM
Minutes of the 2011 AGM – 3MARCH2011AGM
Annual report – not yet available
Statement Of Accounts - not yet available – awaiting completion of Audit
Proposed Honoraria Jan – Dec 2011 – 2011honoraria

Unison Decides To Proceed With Negotiations Over LGPS

suejones — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:18:09 +0000

10 January saw each of the Service Groups covered by the LGPS meeting to take a decision over whether UNISON should proceed with negotiations over the LGPS on the basis of the principles and timetable agreed with the Local Government Association (LGA) on 21 December 2011. Those Service Groups are Local Government, Higher Education, Water, Energy and Transport (WET), Community and Police and Justice.

D Prentis highlighted the fact that UNISON remains in dispute with the Coalition over its attacks on our pensions and that the ballot is still ‘live’. We will not have to re-ballot at the end of negotiations if they fail. Any decision on final proposals in either the NHS or LGPS will be a decision for members, through an all-member ballot. If proposals are rejected, members will be asked whether they want to take further industrial action. He also made it clear that there will be lay member involvement in future negotiations.

Key points on the joint briefing are available here – LGPS_PoP Campaign 11

Unison Financial Support For 2012 Winter Fuel Bill

suejones — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:17:00 +0000

“There For You” has set up a limited fund to help Unison members on low income by way of a one-off payment of up to £50.00. Other conditions and criteria apply:

Closing date for applications if 29 February 2012.

UNISON MEMBERS GIVE GREEN LIGHT TO PENSIONS NEGOTIATIONS

suejones — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:52:39 +0000

UNISON MEMBERS GIVE GREEN LIGHT TO PENSIONS NEGOTIATIONS

10/1/12 – UNISON activists have voted today to give the union’s negotiators the green light to continue discussions with government ministers on changes to public sector pensions.

More than 250 key elected national, regional, rank and file activists met at UNISON’s headquarters to discuss the details of the proposals for the Local Government and Health pension schemes. They agreed to the frameworks negotiators have developed with Government ministers since 30 November.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary said

“UNISON is a democratic union, and in today’s consultation, our elected activists from every service group in the local government pensions scheme endorsed the framework proposals we have negotiated, paving the way for more in depth talks.

“Our health members gave their support to talks on the NHS scheme entering a final phase, due to end in late January. When we have a final offer, we will take it back to members in a full ballot.

“Our action on 30 November got ministers back to the table, since then we have made some real progress. No contribution rises in local government until 2014 will be a real boost for many families that are hard hit by the pay freeze, and struggling to cope. The overwhelming majority of NHS scheme members won’t face contribution rate rises in 2012.

“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.”

Negotiations on the local government scheme are due to run until April 2012.

Unison Special Members Meeting 19 January 2012

suejones — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:27:23 +0000

Two special members meeting will be held on 19 January 2012 at 12.30 pm and 4.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Stoke to discuss the branch response to employer proposals to reduce terms and conditions.

These proposals include:

Removal of essential user car allowances
Reducing mileage allowance to 45p per mile
Charging for car parking at work
Removing subsistance allowance
Removing/rationalising shift/weekend/unsocial hours allowances

It is imperative as many members as possible attend so the everyone ‘s view is heard.

Make your attendance a priority.

A poster is available for downloading – 19jan2012specialgeneralmeeting

Election of Officers, Convenors & Stewards 2012/13

suejones — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:35:10 +0000

Election posters including closing date for nominations and where to find out information on officer posts, convenors posts and the role of stewards are available – election

Local Government Pension Scheme Newsletter No 9 – 21 December 2011

suejones — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:09:13 +0000

21/12/11 – Agreement has now been reached with the Local Government Association (LGA) over principles and a timetable for negotiation over contributions and the scheme design of the LGPS in England and Wales from 2014. The Government accepted that the LGPS as a funded scheme with a high proportion of low earners was different to the other “pay as you go” schemes and has therefore given the go-ahead for a longer period of negotiation, over the short and long term issues. The government has also agreed to suspend the formal consultation on short-term savings while negotiations take place from January 2012. Important principles in the agreement are included - localgovernmentpensionschemenewsletter21dec2011

Local Government Pensions Newsletter No 8 – 20 Dec 2011

suejones — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:51:52 +0000

Since 30 November 2011, the LGA has moved quickly to establish some consensus over the direction of travel within the LGPS and establish some joint principles and a timetable for negotiation, stating in January 2012.

The Government and the LGA have accepted that the LGPS is different from the other public sector pensions schemes because it is a funded scheme and has assets of around £140 billion at current prices.

There are some key points of agreement between the LGPS unions and the LGA – localgovtpensionschemenewsletter20dec2011