A great post from Kate Ramsden of Aberdeenshire Unison on last nights pension meeting.
http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/pensions/pensionsmeetingjuly11.html
Peter Smyth
Communications officer
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Protect your pensions
Public service workers from across Aberdeen will join together this week to discuss attacks on their pensions and plans to defend them.
UNISON, Scotland’s largest union in public services, together with Unite, GMB and EIS have called the mass meeting on Thursday, July 14, to outline plans to protect members’ pension rights. Staff from north-east NHS, police support staff, teachers and local council employees will all be in attendance.
The UK Government is proposing to increase pension contributions by 50 per cent, raise the retirement age and change the way pensions are indexed from RPI to CPI – resulting in a cut of 15 per cent. However, as pension regulation is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, MSPs can choose to reject the UK plans and protect quality pensions in Scotland.
Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said: “UNISON is in discussions with both the UK and Scottish governments about its unfair and unnecessary changes to our members’ pensions which would see them working longer, paying more and getting less. These changes amount to nothing more than a pensions’ tax on public service workers, who are being left to pay the price for bailing out the bankers.
“These proposals would make saving for retirement unaffordable and out of reach for those we most depend on to clean our hospitals, care for the sick and elderly and teach our children.
“The Scottish Government has a choice to make and it’s a simple one; reject the UK Government’s unfair attack on the pensions of hard-working people and protect quality pension provision for Scotland’s public service workers.”
Posted by Peter Smyth
Communications Officer
UNISON, Scotland’s largest union in public services, together with Unite, GMB and EIS have called the mass meeting on Thursday, July 14, to outline plans to protect members’ pension rights. Staff from north-east NHS, police support staff, teachers and local council employees will all be in attendance.
The UK Government is proposing to increase pension contributions by 50 per cent, raise the retirement age and change the way pensions are indexed from RPI to CPI – resulting in a cut of 15 per cent. However, as pension regulation is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, MSPs can choose to reject the UK plans and protect quality pensions in Scotland.
Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said: “UNISON is in discussions with both the UK and Scottish governments about its unfair and unnecessary changes to our members’ pensions which would see them working longer, paying more and getting less. These changes amount to nothing more than a pensions’ tax on public service workers, who are being left to pay the price for bailing out the bankers.
“These proposals would make saving for retirement unaffordable and out of reach for those we most depend on to clean our hospitals, care for the sick and elderly and teach our children.
“The Scottish Government has a choice to make and it’s a simple one; reject the UK Government’s unfair attack on the pensions of hard-working people and protect quality pension provision for Scotland’s public service workers.”
Posted by Peter Smyth
Communications Officer
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
More Pension News
Scottish Government attack pensions increase
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney MSP made a statement to Parliament that increased pension contributions will place an unnecessary burden on public service workers who are already suffering from pay restraint and rising living costs. He also said that this would damage the Scottish economy, undermining consumer confidence. UNISON Scotland welcomed this recognition from the Scottish Government of the unfair and unnecessary attacks on public service workers’ pensions by the UK government.
However, the statement was less clear on those pension matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Government – including pension contribution increases. He set out the limitations of his powers in relation to the NHS scheme and confirmed his greater flexibility in relation to the local government scheme (LGPS). The financial numbers he gave were somewhat confused and he avoided MSP questions on the cost in relation to the LGPS.
In a letter to UNISON he states that he is waiting on developments at UK level while continuing the dialogue in Scotland. Negotiations with the UK government are continuing into July. UNISON will argue that the Scottish Government must face up to the challenges facing Scottish workers and will urge him not to blindly follow the ConDem’s plans.
Taken From UNISON's Scottish Pensions Bulletin No24
And remember Join Us on the 14th at the Beach Ballroom 5-7pm
Peter Smyth
Communications Officer
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney MSP made a statement to Parliament that increased pension contributions will place an unnecessary burden on public service workers who are already suffering from pay restraint and rising living costs. He also said that this would damage the Scottish economy, undermining consumer confidence. UNISON Scotland welcomed this recognition from the Scottish Government of the unfair and unnecessary attacks on public service workers’ pensions by the UK government.
However, the statement was less clear on those pension matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Government – including pension contribution increases. He set out the limitations of his powers in relation to the NHS scheme and confirmed his greater flexibility in relation to the local government scheme (LGPS). The financial numbers he gave were somewhat confused and he avoided MSP questions on the cost in relation to the LGPS.
In a letter to UNISON he states that he is waiting on developments at UK level while continuing the dialogue in Scotland. Negotiations with the UK government are continuing into July. UNISON will argue that the Scottish Government must face up to the challenges facing Scottish workers and will urge him not to blindly follow the ConDem’s plans.
Taken From UNISON's Scottish Pensions Bulletin No24
And remember Join Us on the 14th at the Beach Ballroom 5-7pm
Peter Smyth
Communications Officer
Monday, July 4, 2011
Protect YOUR Pension
Do You Want To Pay More for Your Pension While getting less and working longer?
DO you think its fair that the government plans to take £4 Billion out of YOUR pension Schemes to pay for the financial crisis caused by fat cat bankers?
No, then come and join us at the Beach Ballroom on Thursday 14th July at 5pm, The meeting to be Addressed by UNISON's Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby.
For more information on UNISON's Campaign then please go here
So Remember THURSDAY 14th JULY 5-7pm Beach Ballroom
Peter
Communications Officer
DO you think its fair that the government plans to take £4 Billion out of YOUR pension Schemes to pay for the financial crisis caused by fat cat bankers?
No, then come and join us at the Beach Ballroom on Thursday 14th July at 5pm, The meeting to be Addressed by UNISON's Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby.
For more information on UNISON's Campaign then please go here
So Remember THURSDAY 14th JULY 5-7pm Beach Ballroom
Peter
Communications Officer
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