Pensions Update

We are getting a lot of queries about what impact striking will have on pensions from people in different positions. Please follow the link for comprehensive advice. NB local government members can buy back their lost pension contributions for the day. NHS staff cannot.

The pension negotiations are still ongoing and we are waiting for announcements from the government. Our branch pensions champions will be holding station meetings across the Trust in September and it would be great for members to come along and find out what is happening nationally and locally in response to the government proposals. I'm sure you have all got burning questions so please keep an eye on local notice boards and our website for further updates. Please see the main UNISON website for up to date pension bulletins http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions

With the government planning sweeping changes to public sector pensions across the UK, UNISON has produced a briefing for members on the key issues.

The briefing explains:

the proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme
what the changes will mean to you
the current state of negotiations
what UNISON is doing in response to the proposals
what you can do as part of the campaign

For a copy of the NHS Pension briefing, click on http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/A13369.pdf

For more information about UNISON's campaign, go to http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/healthcare.asp

NHS Pensions Scheme Contribution Modeller

The government proposes to increase member contributions in the NHS Pension Scheme from April 2012.

Follow the link to the Unison modeller to illustrate the increase in pension contributions you will have to make over the next three years and the reduction in your take home pay. To use the modeller enter your PAY BAND and PAY POINT and your working hours in the blue boxes. http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/reckoner.asp

Vote Yes resources & Campaign materials

Pensions Dispute FAQ's

Model Letter to MPs - NHS

Model Letter to MPs - from member of the public

Downloadable Posters

Dear Members

We look forward to you for being part of our campaign to stop the unfair changes to the State Pension Age. Over the weekend, thousands of us piled on the pressure on the Government ahead of the Bill's Second Reading in Parliament yesterday. 6000 of us sent emails to our MPs, and hundreds more picked up the phone to ask their MPs to vote ‘no' and stop the Bill.
Unfortunately, we lost that vote in Parliament last night. Labour MPs opposed the Bill, but most Tories and Lib Dems voted for it to go through.
But we can still win this fight. The Bill will now go to a Committee of MPs where it can be amended. And the pressure on the Government is mounting - MPs from all the Parties stood up in Parliament to tell them that they've got it wrong.
We're going to be stepping up our campaign over the next few weeks to try and change the Bill before it comes back again to the House of Commons for final approval. We want to make sure that the Government gets the message that these changes are unfair, and they have to think again.
What's your message to the Government on state pensions?
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/whatsyourmessage
We'll post some of your messages on our blog, and we'll send a selection of the best ones to Government ministers like Iain Duncan Smith, Steve Webb and George Osborne and, of course, to Cameron and Clegg themselves.
Thanks to the pressure that our campaign has put on MPs, the Government has been forced to go away and look at some of the details of these proposals. We don't know what they'll come up with, but we'll be keeping a very close eye on them.
We'll also be working closely with the Labour MPs on the Bill Committee, who are going to try to get rid of the unfair changes to the State Pension Age. As soon as we know which MPs are sitting on the Committee, we'll be getting in touch with you to help us win them round.
As the Bill moves on in Parliament, we have to keep up the pressure on the Government. Send them your message now:
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/whatsyourmessage
Let's keep up the fight to stop these unfair pension plans.
Helen
PS. We are going to be doing some number crunching about the result last night, which we'll put up on our blog later. In the meantime, you can check how your MP voted here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110620/debtext/110620-0004.htm

Protect Our Pensions Campaign News

Protect Our Pensions Campaign News Issue 5 July 26

The very first UNISON South West POP

(Protect our Pensions) Circular 17 June 2011

UNISON Pension strategy factsheet

This factsheet informs the union of the agreed industrial strategy in respect of the threats to UNISON members' pension schemes. It includes a question and answer section and a timeline.

Public Service Pension Reform

Taking forward there commendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission. Paper

The Public Service Pensions Commission (PSPC): Interim Report

Introduction
This circular informs all structures within UNISON of the main issues arising from the publication of the PSPC's interim report. It comments on the implications for UNISON members who are members of a public sector pension scheme. It highlights the stages in the process and the national union's immediate strategy to prepare a response to the key issues. The PSPC report runs to 170 pages so this briefing only covers the key points raised in it. Every effort should be made to read and become familiar with the report. Hutton Briefing for branches UNISON.pdf

Key Pensions Issues from the CSR

The key pension issues outlined in the comprehensive spending review statement are:

the government will await Lord Hutton's final recommendation before determining the nature of that benefit and the precise level of "progressive" contribution required;
the government will implement changes to the level of employee contributions that lead to an additional saving of £1.8bn per year by 2014-15, equivalent to 3% on average, to be phased in from April 2012;
the armed forces will be exempt from increases in employee contributions;
the government will launch a consultation on the Fair Deal policy which currently requires private sector contractors to provide TUPE transferred staff with broadly comparable pension rights to the public sector pension scheme they transferred from;
the government will carry out a public consultation on the discount rate used to measure the future cost of the schemes;
engagement will be sought with all stakeholders including trade unions;
the spending review also proposes to bring forward previously agreed increases to the state pension age which will rise to 66 for both men and women by April 2020.

UNISON's Reaction

We need to keep up the campaign to ensure public service pension schemes remain as defined benefit.
The decision to increase contributions, and the possibility that benefits are worth less, could mean fewer people join schemes and this could seriously undermine their future viability.
UNISON believes that increasing contributions would be equivalent to a pay cut. The low paid, in particular must be protected from any increases.
We will be responding to the Fair Deal consultation. Privatising services should not mean savings are made by cutting the pay or pensions of the staff,
We will be responding to the consultation on the discount rate. Although this is a technical issue, if it is reduced the cost of all schemes will increase substantially and this, together with other changes, could make the situation for the future of pension provision even more bleak
We will be working with the TUC and other public sector unions to protect the pensions of our members - this will be a top priority across all sectors in UNISON

NHS Pension Scheme England and Wales Choice Exercise
UNISON Guide to the information available and where to find it.

If you have been a member of the NHS Pension Scheme from before the1 April 2008 you will be a member of the 1995 Section of the NHS Pension Scheme. If you continued in active membership to at least the 1 October 2009 and are still in active service you will be soon offered a one off choice to transfer all your service in the 1995 Section across to the 2008 Section should you wish to.

Member Information
Listed below is a series of information materials published by NHS Pensions which seek to answer any questions you might have about the Choice Exercise.

You're NHS Pension Choice - Information leaflet - This leaflet provides members with initial information about the Choice Exercise. All NHS employees should have received a copy from their employer with their May 2009 pay slips. The leaflet can be viewed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/payslipLft.pdf

Member Choice FAQ's - This information is intended to answer any initial questions you may have about the Choice Exercise. The questions listed will be reviewed throughout the Exercise and will be amended, or added to, as the Exercise progresses. These FAQ's can be viewed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/Member_FAQs.doc2.pdf

Pension Choice Exercise Timetable - A broad timetable of when it is anticipated the main Pension Choice Exercise will run for eligible members, which can be viewed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/Choice_Timetable.pdf

Members Guide - SD Guide - This new booklet is for all members of the NHS Pension Scheme. It covers most topics including the benefits you will receive when you retire, survivor benefits, additional pension and advice if you are leaving the scheme. It replaces the following booklets: SDNG, SDK, SDAVC, SDER, SDGP, SDF and the old version of the booklets. The new booklet will answer most of your questions about the NHS Pension Scheme, including benefits, when you can retire, the arrangements for spouse and partners' pensions, and so on. It can be viewed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/SD_Guide_V3_-_06.2009.pdf

Your NHS Pension Choice Guide - This guide provides you with additional information about Your NHS Pension Choice and should be used in conjunction with Your NHS Pension Choice Statement and the DVD. This can be accessed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/090612_2_NHSB_Choice_Guide.pdf

Sample NHS Pension Choice Statement - This is a sample personalized comparison statement of the benefits you could receive from the NHS Pension Scheme 1995 Section and 2008 Section and is viewable by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/090612_NHSB_statement.pdf

Factsheets - NHS Pensions have also produced Factsheets clarifying the effects of Choice on Added Years, Earnings Cap, Ill-health, Mental Health Officer Status, Special Class Status, Retiring early during the Choice exercise. These can all be viewed by going to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2572.aspx

UNISON's Pensions Unit

UNISON'S Pensions Unit continues to attend NHS Pension Scheme Technical Advisory Group Meetings and participate in discussions relating to the particulars of the NHS Pension Scheme, seeking improvements and trying to resolve common problems where these emerge.
UNISON Members should get in contact with us where they have been unable to obtain satisfactory answers to technical questions or feel they may have a potential pension complaint and we will do our best to help.
UNISON Members should note that we cannot provide financial advice and hence will not be able to make specific Choice recommendations for members.
We would advise all members to pay particular attention to their Choice Statements on receipt and take the opportunity to query any apparent errors in the information held by NHS Pensions for them. It's worth noting that the normal 4 month deadline for submission of a Choice form will be extended in cases where an individual is querying potentially incorrect pension details that are held about them.

UNISON Contacts:
Alan Fox
Pensions Officer Unison
a.fox@unison.co.uk

Glyn Jenkins
Head of Pensions Unison
g.jenkins@unison.co.uk