Branch response to Pensions Consultation

15th June 2006
Dear Ms Rochester

RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE APRIL 2006 REGULATIONS

I am writing to you to give the views of the Nottinghamshire County UNISON Branch on the current consultation on the DCLG’s proposed amendments to the April 2006 Regulations. We are a large Branch with 12,500 members and received very wide spread support for the campaign to protect our pension.

The Branch remains opposed to the removal of the 85 Year Rule from 1 October this year. We are aware that our union has lodged a judicial review and been given leave to proceed with it. We are challenging the Government’s view that the 85 Year Rule breaches age discrimination Regulations and prevents existing LGPS members from having full protection of their existing 85 Year Rule rights. We believe that such protection would be fair and in line with the protection afforded to members of every other public sector pension scheme.

Views on the current proposals

We recognise that the current proposals represent a minor improvement to the protections included in the April 2006 Regulations. To that extent, we do not oppose their introduction, pending the judicial review, as they would benefit some of our members.

However, Notts. County Branch does not believe that these amendments are sufficient to overcome the anger and lost morale amongst LGPS members, who now see themselves as the ‘poor relations’ of the public sector. Neither will they greatly assist the large number of LGPS employers faced with recruitment and retention problems. We continue to believe that our members in the LGPS should be given full protection, alongside civil servants, teachers, NHS staff, police and fire fighters and that such a course of action would be both just and equitable.

Whilst Notts. County UNISON Branch support the current limited proposed amendments, we would urge the Government to re-consider them to provide full protection of their 85 Year Rule rights to our members.

The wider Context

Our Branch would also urge the Government to halt this spiralling down of pension provision which will only create a crisis of destitution and poverty amongst the elderly in society in future years. The current proposals are short-term and expedient and it is time for the Government to recognise the huge benefits to society in good pensions for all. We would also state that the costs today will be far less than the bill tomorrow should they fail to act. We would especially urge the Government to cease the propaganda campaign against LGPS members and make sure that they properly reflect the true level of local government pensions (the average being less that £3000 per annum) rather than seek to paint local government workers as ‘fat cats’.

Finally we ask for parity with the most generous pension provision in the public sector in Europe, that of our MPs. Members of Notts. County Branch are disgusted that MPs have afforded themselves protection and benefits which they are denying to low-paid workers in local government. We believe that they should be ashamed.

Yours sincerely

Jill Turner
Joint Branch Secretary