National Delegate Conference 21-24 June
2011
Wednesday Briefing: Fighting the ‘tissue of lies’ on pensions
Scotland’s motion 21 leads off Comp B this morning on pensions.
The motion lays out a 13 point plan of action with a cross service
group pension campaign and a co-ordinated plan with other public
sector trade unions.
The government’s strategy on pensions is clear. They want us
to:
- pay more
- work longer
- and get less when we retire.
We face a number of attacks on the Scottish pension schemes including:
a change to the way pension increases are calculated - RPI to
CPI - that has cut average pensions by at least 15%.
An increase in retirement age that doesn’t reflect the demands
on many public service workers.
Abolishing pension protection for workers who are forced to transfer
to another employer outside the public sector and changes to fund
governance and cost sharing provisions with employers.
The motion calls for a coordinated campaign which should include
legitimate industrial action in defence of our pensions.
As we know only too well the majority of public sector pensioners
receive a pension of less than £5,000 and that half of the women
in the NHS scheme receive less than £3,500.
That is why the action in Newcastle City’s part of Comp B calling
for a campaign to address the public sector pension myths is important
in raising awareness with the general public - and also with our
own members.
As Dave Prentis said yesterday, “An attack on over 5 million
workers - 20 million affected, all on a false premise. That our
pensions are gold plated, unaffordable. A tissue of lies, misrepresentation.
With the ink on our previous agreement barely dry.”
Scotland’s Stephanie Herd told Sunday’s Local Government Conference
that UNISON will argue that the Scottish Government does not have
to implement all of the UK plans. “Scottish schemes already have
a progressive contribution scheme. Our funds are financially stable”,
she said.
“We should be ready to build resistance against attacks that
will only benefit the Tory toffs, not working people and our members
young and old. “We need to be ready to fight. We will fight!”.
At Health Conference in April, delegates voted to join other
UNISON colleagues and other unions to defend their pensions -
including with industrial action if necessary.
While negotiations with central government continue, new national
secretary for health Chritsina McAnea said, "we will hope for
the best, but plan for the worst." "This is not a drill: it's
the real thing."
And she added: "We won't be apologetic or defensive about defending
our members' interests because what makes the NHS the prized service
it is is the staff who make the miracle of the NHS happen every
day”.
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