Annual General Meeting 2003 Details

UNISON Angus Council Branch

the public service union in Angus

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National Website

UNISON Direct 0845 355 0845

No. 22 - 2 April 2011

Pensions Campaign: Getting Organised

Branches who attended the last pensions delegate meeting received an overview of the key issues facing UNISON members and the importance of getting organised at all levels.

We face a number of attacks on Scottish pension schemes including:

 Change to the way pension increases are calculated – RPI to CPI that will cut average pensions by at least 15%.

 Retirement age increases that don’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.

 A complete overhaul of the state pension that will impact on public service schemes.

 Changes to fund governance and cost sharing provisions with employers.

Important though these issues are the key issue is the proposed 3.2% increase in member contributions. That’s a 50% increase. This is simply a tax to pay back government debts that were raised to bail out the banks. None of the money will go into the schemes and it threatens the whole system – if members opt-out. Overall the pension changes mean:

Pay more – Work longer – Get less

For this campaign to have maximum impact we need to get organised at branch level. Regional Organisers will therefore be working with branches on a branch organising plan that should have the following key elements:

Appoint at least one pensions champion who will take a lead role in the branch on this issue.

Appoint pension contacts at workplace level who can talk to members about the attack on our pensions.

A communications strategy that explains the issues to members and the public using a range of media.

Updating the RMS to ensure that member contact details are correct in readiness for an industrial action ballot if required.

A recruitment campaign to strengthen membership density.

There will be briefings and training for pensions champions and contacts. Register your champions and contacts at: http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/pop_involved.asp

Send mail to webmaster@unison-angus.org.uk with questions or comments about this web site.