Surrey County UNISON branch

The UNISON regional FE and 6^th form committee are to have an Emergency Pensions briefing on 1 February. This regional committee has also recently produced its first newsletter for college members. Contact Mumta Erkadoo at the Guildford Office on m.erkadoo@unison.co.uk or tel: 01483 406520 for a copy and to find out more about this important committee.

There is also a new national UNISON newsletter for college members: http://www.unison.org.uk/file/A4531.pdf

I will be giving a report on the current situation with our pension scheme at the AGM on Wednesday based on the proposals in this easy to understand briefing available from: http://scunison.squarespace.com/lgps-negotiation-updates/2007/1/9/the-new-lgps-and-you-unison-briefing.html

Brief summary:

Despite the Government Actuaries Department (GAD) eventually agreeing with our own actuaries, AON, that full protection is affordable for all existing LGPS members [LGPS Newsletter: 35] the current draft regulations offer full protection from removal of the 85 Rule only until 2016, with some transitional protection till 2020 (The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), using executively devolved powers, proposed full protection until 31 March 2020 for members who will be 60 by 31 March 2020 and satisfy the 85 Rule). Those who plan to retire age 60 after 2020 could lose up to a third of their pension .

The draft regulations set an improved accrual rate. Current scheme provides 1/80^th of your final salary per year. ‘New look scheme’: 1/60^th of your final salary to be paid to you as your pension each year.

The proposals set a variable employee contribution rate which may work out cheaper for full-time employees whilst more expensive than the previous regulations for part-time employees.

Over 25% of UNISON Local Government branches have called for a special conference in March under rule D.3.4.11 [UNISON rules]. See 3rd page of latest newsletter for timetable and deadlines: http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B2988.pdf

It is UNISON policy that all members eligible to join the LGPS will be balloted on the final proposals. A recommendation should eventually come from the Service Group Executives or possibly earlier from the Special Conference in March. It also possible that the Government will hold back from laying the final LGPS regulations until after the local elections in May.