Camden UNISON strike leaflet

From Camden to Senate House - we can and must resist

Today I went to a very well attended meeting at Senate House to discuss our national ballot for industrial action to break the pay freeze. I referred to an accessible and comprehensive report on-line which gives a flavour of the pain our members are suffering under the current government. I also referred to the inspired leadership and strategy shown by the determined action of the Camden parking enforcement officers UNISON strike, who are out today (see photo from rally I had the honour to visit o the way to Senate House), tomorrow and Saturday in a bitter struggle for a living wage. Please send messages of support and cheques for as much as your branch can possibly afford, to Camden UNISON Branch. Thanks for organising, and solidarity greetings to Senate House Branch Sec, Josephine Grahl and to George Binette, Branch Sec at Camden for their tireless efforts. We need more like them in our movement, we really do.

You got a lotta nerve ...

You got a lotta nerve To say you are my friend When I was down You just stood there grinning You got a lotta nerve To say you got a helping hand to lend You just want to be on The side that's winning You say I let you down You know it's not like that If you're so hurt Why then don't you show it You say you lost your faith But that's not where it's at You had no faith to lose And you know it I know the reason That you talk behind my back I used to be among the crowd You're in with Do you take me for such a fool To think I'd make contact With the one who tries to hide What he don't know to begin with You see me on the street You always act surprised You say, "How are you?" "Good luck" But you don't mean it When you know as well as me You'd rather see me paralyzed Why don't you just come out once And scream it No, I do not feel that good When I see the heartbreaks you embrace If I was a master thief Perhaps I'd rob them And now I know you're dissatisfied With your position and your place Don't you understand It's not my problem I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes And just for that one moment I could be you Yes, I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes You'd know what a drag it is To see you Bob Dylan, 1965

We're All In It Together Album Launch

Join me in pledging to march for A Future That Works on October 20

Join me in pledging to march for A Future That Works on October 20 Join me in pledging to march for A Future That Works on October 20 Source: afuturethatworks.org I pledge to march with the TUC in London on 20 October I can't be at the march in person, but want to help show my support by joining the fight online Please select one of the above This march is just one step in a long campaign to get our government to change course from their dangerous and damaging programme of cuts and austerity. If you choose to receive further contacts from us, we'll keep you updated by email on logistical information about the march, and on other online campaign action fro...

Don't be put off - vote to reject!

Don't be put off by the alarmist language or bullied by the other larger service groups who are recommending to accept. We've already won huge concessions - we are repeatedly told so after all, I've been told twice they're phenomenal(!) concessions - and that was after just one day strike action ... plus the UCU are still in dispute so in our sector we're in a strong position.

Anyway, if you do accept then don't come crying to me when you're still working aged 68 and looking forward to a devalued pension!

Protect our Pensions: VOTE NO & Reject the LGPS 'deal'

Protect our Pensions: VOTE NO & Reject the LGPS 'deal' UNISON members are being asked to vote by postal ballot on proposals for a new Local Government Pension Scheme from 1 April 2014. The proposals would mean: Increased Retirement Age to 68 Ending Final Salary Scheme Paying in longer for less benefits UNISON United Left is urging all those who want to defend their Pensions to vote NO in this Ballot and to reject the LGPS deal. The Ballot will run from 31 July to 24 August 2012 and members will be able to vote by post or online. Work Longer Whilst there is some protection for those within 10 years of reaching 65 in April 2012 years the proposals would mean an increased retirement age of 66 for those aged between 53 and 56 now, of up to 67 for those currently aged between 36 and 53, and of 68 and above for the under 36s. Pension age linked to SPA: 66 for those under 58 67 for those under 53 68 for those under 36 71+ for young workers? Protection for those 10 yrs from retirement in April 2012 & on pre 2014 scheme membership. Will people make it to 68? Public Sector jobs are often hard and stressful. That's why most people don't make it to 65 now -the average real retirement age in the LGPS is between 62 and 63. But if you retire before the normal retirement age you'll have your pension reduced, currently by up to one third if you go at 60. The reductions may go down in 2013 - because as people live longer the relative amount of extra pension you get by going early goes down. But that process is likely to be reversed by raising the retirement age so that reductions for retiring before the new higher retirement age are likely to increase for those currently aged under 55. Pay More The success of the joint strike action on 30 November has forced the government to make some concessions. Contributions will not go up for most scheme members with steep increases for those earning above £43,000 (where the higher rate of tax relief applies.) Contributions would be based on actual rather than notional Full Time Equivalent pay, and would include overtime and additional hours. Strike action works For the loss of one day's pay in strike action on 30 November most people will save more than that on each and every month's pension contributions from now on. But...if we pay into the scheme for more years because of tlater retirement we still pay more. Get Less The new scheme scraps our Final Salary Scheme replacing it with a Career Average (CARE). As almost everybody earns more at the end of their working lives this will be worse for many people. Even if you are in the same job all your life your pay rises through incremental progression or regrading. The CARE scheme is based on actual earnings per year and so delivers less in the years you earn less for any reason. 1/49 accrual rate in a CARE scheme revalued by CPI doesn't deliver the same benefits as 1/60 final salary. When the civil service brought in a CARE scheme they offered 1/42 accrual rate, revalued by the better measure of RPI, as "broadly comparable" to 1/60 final salary. 1/49 revalued by CPI falls far short of that. Final Salary and raised Retirement Age are said to be deal breakers. Then the deal should be broken. RPI to CPI The new scheme is also based on pensions only being uprated by CPI instead of RPI. This cut the value of our pensions by 15% at a stroke. United Strike Action can win November the major unions in all the other Public Sector Schemes: Civil Service Health Teachers Lecturers have rejected proposals for new pension schemes based on the proposals announced by the Treasury in November that underpinned the "Heads of Agreement", all based on working longer, paying more, and getting less. Doctors were the latest group to take industrial action on pensions on 21 June - their first industrial action in 40 years. Most unions are pledged to take more strike action in the Autumn - UNISON should be with them.