Local Government pensions - time to have your say
by Chris Bartter
The Scottish Government has announced the opening of the
consultation period on proposals to develop a new pension
scheme for those who are members of the Local Government scheme.
UNISON, along with other unions, has been involved in tri-partite
discussions with employers and the Scottish Public pensions
Agency on the new scheme. Whilst there are a number of important
beneficial features proposed, there are still some issues
to be resolved.
Mike Kirby, UNISON's Scottish Convenor said "We welcome the
progress so far, and the fact that there are a number of improvements,
but there remain some areas of concern. "We still want to
discuss the way that increased contributions impact on members
- particularly how to make the contributions more progressive;
the position of people who need to retire for ill-health reasons;
and especially the governance of the new scheme, and how members
can have a direct say.
"Branches are being encouraged to run their own consultation
events in the near future to get the views of members in responding
to the consultation." The Scottish Regional Office will be
circulating additional materials to assist with this consultation
including a PowerPoint presentation and briefing that can
be used in branch newsletters etc. If branches are holding
meetings then we will do our best to provide speakers.
The consultation paper can be viewed at www.sppa.gov.uk/pension_reform/PRLGPSConsultations.htm.
The consultation period ends on 31 October 2007.
The three parties agree that the new scheme:
* Should be a defined benefit final salary scheme, with
a normal retirement age of 65;
* Should have accrual rates at 1/60th with option to commute
up to 25% into a lump sum;
* Should have increased death-in-service grants to 3 x final
salary;
* Should have dependants' benefits that will be payable in
respect of widows, widowers, civil partners, plus unmarried
partners who cohabit, at rate of 1/160th;
* Should have increased flexibility in the run-up to retirement.
There will be a delegate meeting before the end of the consultation
to let branches transmit the views of members and formulate
the UNISON response.
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