Draft Pensions Regulations deferred – lobbying success!

WOOLAS HOLDS FIRE ON DRAFT REGULATIONS – UNISON PRESSURE PAYS OFF!

Local Government Minister and LGPS Regulator Phil Woolas has agreed to hold back draft Regulations based on the unacceptable Parliamentary statement and DCLG letter he released last week. They appeared without warning the day after our successful lobby of Parliament on 22 November.

It is understood that the Minister will be writing to UNISON setting his views on the need for negotiations to continue and that the outcome of further talks can be reflected in the Regulations.

Those of you who attended the lobby on 22 November or who have lobbied or written to your MP separately, can give yourselves a large pat on the back for the political pressure you have created. MP’s report unprecedented lobbying by UNISON members over the LGPS and many are angry themselves at the way in which discussions with the LGA were brought to an abrupt end by Woolas’ unexpected announcement.

What happens now?

The draft Regulations, which will be subject to a 12- week formal consultation period, will be released in around two weeks time. We do not have the precise date. In the meantime, we hope to quickly pick up talks with the Local Government Association and Local Government Employers, which were making some progress. The employers were also kept in the dark about Woolas’s statement. Talks are likely to prove more difficult this time round, following the Government’s announcement. However, we want the opportunity to take them as far as we can and get a fair deal for existing and future LGPS members through negotiation if possible.

Don’t give up now!

It is important that we keep up the political pressure on MP’s while talks take place. If you haven’t written to your MP or visited his/her surgery, please do it now. This is equally important if you have an MP who is not Labour. Tell him/her that UNISON – and other trade union members – expect a fair deal and equal treatment with other public sector pension members. This means better protection for existing members, a fair ill health retirement scheme, improved benefits - such as the 1/60 accumulation rate - for existing members and no increase in the employee contribution rate to pay for a worse scheme, with lower employer contributions. Please let us know their response.