LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONS

Why we are balloting

The Government wants you to pay more, work longer and get less in retirement

• Pensions are deferred pay – so this is just another pay cut

• The NUT has already taken action in schools – we’re also part of the alliance of local government unions defending the LGPS

• Vote YES in the ballot if you want to keep a decent pension scheme

The Government’s agenda

Pay more, work longer, get less…• higher contributions• higher normal pension ages• lower accrual rates• “career average” pensions• lower pension increases in retirement

Our campaign so far

Negotiations with Government since April - but little or no progress

• NUT, ATL, UCU strike in schools 30 June• TUC Congress – up to 20 unions declare for

action• Education unions lobby 26 October• Joint petition - www.decentpensions.org.uk• Planned national action if necessary on 30

November

The NUT’s LGPS ballot

Members in school improvement and support services

• Ballot covers those eligible for LGPS membership

• Ballot opens 20 October, closes 16 November

• Members with unclear records have been contacted by NUT

• Anyone not receiving a ballot paper should still contact us

The attack - the long term

Government proposing changes to all public sector schemes from 2015

• Normal pension age to rise to 66 and eventually 68

• “Career average” basis for future accrual• CPI not RPI increases (already

implemented)• Higher employee contributions assumed• Lower pension accrual rates

The attack - the short term (1)

Government wants £900m "savings" from LGPS before 2015

• No justification for this from scheme valuations

• LGA and Pickles refusing to acknowledge “savings” already accruing from workforce reductions or from the RPI CPI switch

The attack – the short term (2)

LGA proposes changes from 2014:• Normal pension age to rise to 66 for

everyone immediately – faster than Government plans

• Contributions increase for all over £15,000 - this means 2.5% more for most NUT members, on top of current 6.8% or 7.2%

• Or pay the same and get a 1/68th pension not 1/60th – almost 15% less

The attack – the short term (3)

Government proposes changes from 2012 :• Approach 1: £450m from contribution rises

– a 1.8% to 3.5% increase for NUT members; and £450m from cutting accrual rate to 1/65th; or

• Approach 2: £300m from contribution rises – a 1.6% to 3% increase from NUT members; and £600m from cutting accrual rate to 1/67th

Vote Yes - support the action

Our aim: to persuade the Government to negotiate in good faith

• Vote Yes and support the action• Meet with colleagues and contact other

unions (Unison, Aspect, AEP)• Take part in strike activities on the day• Show the Government its proposals are

unacceptable.• Stay involved in the Union’s campaign

Find out more

www.teachers.org.uk/soulburywww.teachers.org.uk/pensions

• NUT's pensions loss calculator for Soulbury officers

• Briefings on the Government’s attack on our pensions

• Update reports on the LGPS