Industrial action on pensions suspended

(12/4/06) UNISON agreed to recommend suspending planned industrial action over pensions after the joint unions agreed a basis for further talks with employers.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: “The joint union/LGA statement is a positive step and that is why we have decided to suspend our planned strike action. It provides a framework to enable negotiations to take place on the future of the local government pension scheme and on protection arrangements. There is still a great deal of work to do in the detailed negotiations over these complex issues in a short time frame and we will be concentrating all our efforts on achieving a satisfactory conclusion. “

The move follows a TUC-brokered joint statement with the Local Government Association which commits both sides to:

discussing proper protection for current members of the LGPS pension scheme if the Rule of 85 were to be abolished

making 50% of the savings available to pay for protections, and of savings from changes to the commutation arrangements

agreeing that changes in future should be made by agreement where possible

negotiating a fair new-look scheme for the future.

The joint statement followed successful one-day national strike action on 28 March.

Read the full joint statement

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