PENSIONS - legal challenge, more protection and new talks

by Joe Di Paola

Since the suspension of the action on pensions a series of meetings have taken place between UNISON, Cosla, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) and Officials of the Scottish Executive.

The discussion centred on methods to remove the Rule of 85 in a way which protected the largest number possible of Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme members. UNISON has also agreed a joint statement with the employers that both are clear the Rule of 85 does not require to be removed, and the Judicial Review on this issue started by UNISON, has now had a date set - 17/18 September.

But the Executive and the SPPA are determined that this has to happen, so UNISON felt that discussions on protections - and the new scheme - should continue.

Mike Kirby, Scottish Convenor said "While we are clear that the Rule of 85 is not discriminatory and UNISON is continuing to pursue our Judicial Review, it simply makes semse to pursue the possibilities of a separate Scottish solution if that can be found. We also need to start serious discussions on the shape of a new scheme, pursuing improvements that UNISON has long campaigned for."

Tom McCabe MSP, Minister for Finance and Public Services Reform, has now published two amendments to the Local Government Pensions Scheme (Scotland) - laid before the Scottish Parliament on 29 June 2006. These amendments extend the period of protection, for those affected by the removal of the Rule of 85 in Scotland, to the year 2020 (compared with the protection in the rest of the UK which extends to 2016).

Consultation with members across the branches affected led to a narrow majority in favour of acceptance of these amendments and against further industrial action. Further discussions are to start soon, beginning to look at the shape of a future Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme.

More detail on the shape of that scheme will be reported and your opinion sought in the near future.

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