SPECIAL CONFERENCE REPORT

Branch delegates Rob Evans, Jill Bird & Ken Jones joined representatives of UNISON’s local government members to attend the much sought after Special Conference on the Local Government Pension Scheme. The furore of recent months when branches throughout the country called for the conference to express their dissatisfaction with the national negotiators was well diluted, so much so that delegates ended up welcoming "substantial improvements" in government proposals for the new pension scheme and called for continued talks, with a ballot of members on acceptance as soon as negotiations are completed.

As Jean Geldart, chair of the union's local government service group executive reminded delegates gathered in Alexandra Palace, north London, "three years ago, the government declared war on public-service pensions schemes”.

But now, conference agreed, extensive negotiations and a campaign including industrial action, had led to proposals which include:

a guaranteed final salary scheme; an improved accrual rate – from 1/80th to 1/60th of final salary for every year worked; pensions for unmarried partners; improved death-in-service benefits.

The conference also welcomed negotiators' success in removing unacceptable" proposals on redundancy and benefits for scheme members’ children who are left without parents, thanks to the "hard work and successful campaigning of our branches, regions and senior negotiators over two years".In particular, delegates welcomed proposed improvements for low paid women and part-time workers. As Wendy Nichols of North Yorkshire noted, "three-quarters of LGPS members are women and half of those are part time" – and keeping a final salary scheme with improved accrual rates is a victory for them.While recognising the progress made, the conference called on negotiations to continue – in particular around:contribution rates for part-time workers and those currently on a protected 5% rate; provision for people retiring on ill-health grounds; protection for those formerly covered by the 'rule of 85' which allowed some members to retire at 60 with an unreduced pension.

As soon as negotiations are completed, members will be balloted on whether they accept the proposals or, if not, whether they are prepared to take "substantial and escalating industrial action".The conference further called for a full equality impact assessment under the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure that the new LGPS met the needs of disabled workers with "dignity and respect".

The consultation period closes very soon and a decision will be taken at national level as soon as possible thereafter.

NB: THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE BRANCH NEWSLETTER