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Next steps in the pensions campaign
UNISON is
gearing up to take the pensions campaign forward in 2012
with our third pensions summit, bringing together lay
activists from across the union, taking place at the UNISON
Centre on 10 January.
All the service group executives involved in the NHS and
local government pension schemes will meet on the same day
to consider the latest updates from the sector negotiations
and decide the way forward.
Local government pensions update (England and Wales)
A set of principles providing "a positive framework" for
negotiations on the future of the local government pension
scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales have now been given the
green light by government.
The principles and timetable for detailed negotiations were
jointly agreed between unions and the Local Government
Association after lengthy talks and submitted to the
government.
Update on NHS pension scheme
Health unions, including UNISON, have agreed to consult on
government ministers' final pension proposals at the
conclusion of
negotiations.
The Heads of Agreement document has been given to 16 health
unions who will consult with their executives. The document
is not an agreement or a deal. It is the government's final
offer to the unions and does include some improvements as a
result of union action on 30 November and negotiations. It
will be for each union to determine their response through
their own democratic processes. Formal negotiations on the
NHS pension scheme in Scotland have not yet started with the
Scottish government.
Civil service pension scheme
There is no agreement yet.
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November 30th 2011 - Fighting For Pensions Justice
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A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL SECRETARY DAVE PRENTIS
I want to wish you a very Happy New Year, and thank you for the hard
work that many of you will have put in to keep vital services
running over the Christmas break.
This will be a big year for our union - in early January, our
service group executives will meet to discuss the latest on
pensions, and our campaign to protect the NHS will continue as the
Health and Social Care Bill makes its way through the House of
Lords.
And I know that in your town or city, our union and will be
campaigning to save vital jobs and services like libraries and day
centres from cuts and closures.
In the last year, our union has achieved so much – from our
successful day of action, to the sea of purple and green that made
its way through London’s streets in March to highlight the vital
role of public services.
Building on this strength and determination will see us through the
challenges that we face in 2012.
High Court Challenge to Public Sector Pensions
The Attack on Pensions
LGPS
Pensions Campaign
Pensions Knowledge Centre
Dave Prentis at TUC Conference 14.09.2011
LGPS Existing Benefits
LGPS Actual Proposals from DCLG*
Retirement Age
DCLG SCP/Salary and Pension contributions
(Approach 1)
DCLG SCP/Salary and Pension Contribution
(Approach 2)
The Battle for the Old Age Pension
A short, personal essay on economics; Peter King
Understanding National Debt!
There seems to be a
widespread mood of acceptance that ‘UK plc’ is bankrupt. Andrew Marr
said, in response to the Chancellor’s assertion that we were on the
brink of bankruptcy; ‘You clearly need to make the savings, the cuts
and raise taxes’. That was on his BBC Sunday morning show and,
therefore, public sector broadcast opinion. But how true is this?
I could quote few
leading Economists to show that opinion differs but, rather than
that, let’s consider a few facts.
Debt isn’t a problem if you can afford to repay it.
To understand how
big the national debt is, please consider it as a percentage of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) itself made up of consumer spending,
business investment, government spending and international trade
income. The UK GDP in 2010 was £1.435 trillion and our debt then,
£927bn or 64.6%.
‘Our debt is higher than it’s ever been’ Coalition Government.
That’s not true!
Throughout 1920-1939 it hovered around 150% but after WWII, it
reached 261% and, my parents assure me, the sky did not fall in!
But it is worth
acknowledging that the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 limited member
state debt to 60% of GDP. Clearly UK debt appears to exceed that
limit but consider how France’s is 77% and Germany’s is 72% and
no-one seems too troubled by them. However, I must not ignore
Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy at 87%, 70%, 87% and 117%.
So, let’s look at
the international picture and we find the US is at 95% with
President Obama is trying to borrow more. We hear no concern about
Canada at 81% and, despite the damage from a tsunami (and associated
radioactivity leaks) Japan is quietly proceeding to rebuild itself
with a debt of 200% its GDP.
‘The deficit is caused by overspending.’ Coalition Government.
This is too simply
a statement, even for me! Deficit comes when you spend more than
your earn. If you earn more you can reduce deficit and, if the
government were to raise taxes…
I could expand
about Keynesian economics and the multiplying effects of public
spending but I’ll leave that for a higher grade lecture!
I could direct you
to the UN measure of equality, the GINO Co-efficient, currently
showing the UK as one of the most unequal societies for disposable
income after deducting housing costs. We could explore the change
from direct (income) tax to in-direct taxation, including VAT, now
at 20% but let’s not forget who is to blame.
‘..the billions spent bailing out the banks and the need for public
spending cuts were the fault of the financial services sector.’
Mervyn King, to the Treasury Select Committee, 2 March 2011.
The banks owe 350%
what they are worth! That debt is around £955bn, almost equal to the
UK GDP!
So, how come it’s
OK for our banks to have such high debt levels when the government
says the nation cannot sustain 64%?
On top of which, if
we don’t count the money the banks we now (substantially) own, owe
to us (about £107bn) the National debt is only 57.1% of GDP. It’s
funny; Mervyn didn’t tell the Select Committee that!
So, what is this a
crisis of?
National debt? NO
Current account
deficit? Depends on your values, it’s political.
Economic
governance? YES
Banking? YES
Democracy and
public debate? YES.
For now, I close and leave you to consider:
‘The gross national product does not allow for the health of our
children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play.
It
does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our
marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity or
our public officials.’
Robert Kennedy, 1968
With
thanks to Barry and Saville Kushner.
Another short,
personal essay;
Solving
National Debt!
Having a rant about
National Debt made me feel better but won’t alter much, unless you
and I use the information. Firstly I encourage you to remember some
of the facts I gave you and drop them into conversation with family
and friends, at work and, better still, to your MP. The easiest way
to write to her/him is through the website:
http://www.writetothem.com/
However, that won’t
solve any debt, just help folk understand better that it needn’t be
the excuse to end all that makes the UK a civilised place to live.
So, here’s a
suggestion that could go a long way to reduce the nation’s debt, and
fund the public services. Indeed, if adopted by the ‘western world’
it could do a great deal of good around the world ~ and help deal
with the changing climate we are all facing. But let’s start with a
quotation:
“The price of this financial crisis is being borne by people who
absolutely did not cause it, now is the period when the cost is
being paid, I’m surprised that the degree of public anger has not
been greater than it has been.”
Mervyn King, addressing the Treasury Select Committee earlier this
year and, notably, before the recent riots!
Which sets the
scene for me to introduce you to:
The Robin Hood Tax
(With apologies to those who already
know of this idea!)
Put very simply,
the intention would be to levy a very small tax on the financial
transactions carried out (generally) by the very same institutions
that caused the crisis. The systems necessary to collect it are
already in place and it wouldn’t affect ordinary members of the
public, their bank accounts or their savings. In operation it would
generate around £20bn annually in the UK.
I urge you to visit
their website:
http://robinhoodtax.org/
And, if nothing
else, watch their short video clip ‘The Banker’ which is very
informative as well as being quite amusing!
And, after that,
you just might like to email your MP ~ again!
Peter
King, UNISON Steward
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