So come along, cast your vote and have your say

There’s no point going over the details of what we’re fighting for, if you don’t know by now then you should make the effort to find out just  how much more you will pay, how much longer you will have to work and roughly how much you will lose.

This is about more than just pensions it is about the future of public services in this country and the type of life we want to promote for our children. This might sound strong but the choice is stark, either we allow this disgraceful and illegitimate government to systematically dismantle the public sector or we stand together and fight for a fairer society where those who can and should pay do.

Our pensions did not cause the recession!  It’s got nothing to do with the Greek or Italian bailout! The campaign against us is being  driven by the ideology of a Tory government that wants to drive down the working conditions for all working people whether there’s  recession or not.  We should not be fooled by the rhetoric of the politicians.

We joined the union because we wanted to work together to solve our problems collectively. This is a major problem which will make us all poorer and reverse decades of progress made by workers in improving terms and conditions of employment. Once our pensions have been stolen we will never get them back!

This is why we joined a trade union so if you’re in Unison you should be on strike tomorrow

What you should do tomorrow

First and foremost DO NOT GO TO WORK!

Come along to your normal place of work at your normal start time and talk to your colleagues on the picket line. Unison stewards will be picketing outside the majority of buildings around the town hall/Mare Street area and at depots across the borough. There will also be a picket at Stoke Newington Town Hall and at various libraries. Wrap up warm and bring a brolly but do come along and support your colleagues on the day. Don’t leave it to someone else to do!

At 10.30 there is a rally in the Town Hall Square.  Lots of people from the community and other trade unions will be joining us there. We aim to be finished by 11.30.

The important thing to remember is you are not going to be at work so after the pickets you can do whatever you like, enjoy yourself.  We would encourage staff to attend the national demonstration in London:

Well the important thing to remember is that you don’t win! The increase in contributions combined with increased retirement age mean that the majority of staff lose out. Throw in the conversion to a career average scheme in 2015 and this mops up all those who may have been slightly better off. 

The governments own experts explain that the only way a career average scheme would improve benefits on retirement would be if the accrual rate of the overall scheme increases. The accrual rate is the rate at which your pension builds up and in the local government scheme this is set at 1/60 so effectively you accrue one 60^th of your annual salary in pension benefits for each year of service. As this will remain the same everyone will receive less benefit on retirement.

In contrast our elected politicians, the very same ones that are stealing your pensions do pretty well out of the public purse.

For example Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles will have racked up a handsome annual pension of £43825 not by the time he retires but by the time of the next general election… That’s a whopping 14.3 times more that the average local government worker who would have to work for 124 years to achieve the same benefits in retirement.

And what about that smug, old Etonian George Osbourne? Well he gets a decent £32977 by the next election which the average public sector worker earning the median public sector wage would have to work 97 years to achieve. I wonder what the millionaire baronet will spend it on.

Remember this is not what they will be getting on retirement this is what they will have accrued if they were to retire at the next general election.

The situation is the same for all of the cabinet and on average an MP only has to work for 3.5 years to accrue the average local government pension. It’s not as if these people are poor in fact most of the cabinet are millionaires. It does show however the hypocrisy of the debate if only on a basic level and also that we are being governed by a bunch of people who want us to do as they say rather than do as they do. 

See you on the picket lines

Please come along to your workplace on the day and peacefully picket outside your office or depot. You should not obstruct anyone from entering the building but do your best to persuade others not to work. Pick up placards, horns, whistles and leaflets from the branch office before the 30^th.

Protest

Rally outside the town hall at 10.30 and join with hundreds of other local workers in telling this government to shove off. Then travel into toLondonto join the national demo.

Breakfast

The strike committee has agreed to cover the cost of everyone’s breakfast on the day. If you are picketing in the town hall campus area then you can get yourself a cup of tea or coffee and a roll from 7 am from the Moth Club on Valette Street . If you work in a satellite office or depot then use your local café and keep the receipt. The branch will cover the cost of food and drink up to a total value of £2.50 per member.

Ballot closes November 3

Take the last chance to save your pension – vote YES in the pensions ballot

I’m writing to you because proposed changes to your pension threaten most of you with having to work longer, pay more and get less when you eventually retire.

These changes are unfair. They mean that many hard working UNISON members will be paying 50% more a month into their pension, working for much longer, and then retiring on a pension worth around 15% less.

UNISON, along with many other public sector unions, is balloting for industrial action. I’m urging you to vote in the ballot and to vote YES.

The ballot closes on 3 November – make sure you’ve posted your vote before then.

It’s urgent that we let relevant ministers know that UNISON members don’t deserve this treatment and that we’re serious about saying ‘enough is enough’.

As your general secretary, I am asking you to use your vote, even at this late stage: we know that those who are against us will argue that any abstention is a No vote and means you’re in favour of the attacks on your pension. Don’t give them that excuse!

So act now and vote YES to defend your pension. And forward this email to your work colleagues and friends …

Yours,

Dave Prentis
General Secretary

PS If you haven’t received your ballot paper, or if you need a replacement, remember you’ve got until midday on 31 October to call the ballot hotline on 0845 355 0845.

For more information on the campaign go to our pension campaign web pages.

To find out more about the changes being proposed by the government contact your branch on  020 8356 4062.

Members will have seen the coverage about our pensions being attacked and hopefully know that 13 public sector unions are now balloting for industrial action on 30th November.

The strike is being called to protect our pensions which are being attacked by the Government. In short the Government wants us to pay more, work longer and get less in our retirement and for many the changes will make the scheme unaffordable and so many current LGPS members may choose to opt out making it unsustainable in the longer term. 

Not a penny of the increase in our contributions will go towards improving the pension scheme. Instead it will go to the Treasury to pay for the excesses of the bankers.

Whatever you think about the government we think everyone can agree that a decent pension is an essential part of your terms and conditions of employment and that’s why it’s so important that you vote in this ballot.

If you want to find out more about the changes being proposed or the ballot itself then please contact the branch on 0208 356 4062 or Unison Direct on 0845 355 0845.

You should receive your ballot paper within the next few days however if you do not receive a ballot paper by the 17th October please contact Unison Direct on 0845 355 0845.

So please do take part in this ballot and

12.30-2.00

Tuesday 27th September

Town Hall Chambers

 Hackney Town Hall

Time off has been agreed for all council and ALMO staff (so you have no excuse not to turn up)

Arrive from 12 for registration and lunch

Come and have your say and find out about how the Tories are trying to steal your pension!

The plans face widespread discontent and protest from local trade unions and community groups as well as lots of individual residents upset at what they believe will result in unaccountable private firms profiteering from the most disadvantaged in our communities.

Our brothers and sisters Barnet Unison have been mounting a campaign of industrial action for the past few months with over 400 staff from selected departments taking industrial action short of strike action to remain employees of the council. The campaign continues today with a half day strike of revenue raising sections and a rally outside Hendon Town Hall at 5.30 tonight. The day of protest has been dubbed Barnet Independence Day.

Barnet and Hackney Unison have long had close ties and the Secretary of Barnet Unison, John Burgess has worked tirelessly for years to defend his members from the excesses of Tory political dogma. John is an outstanding trade unionist who has in the past lent much support to our members here in this borough in their time of need.

We are asking all of our members who live in Barnet to take half an hour on your way home tonight to pass by Hendon Town Hall and show your support for fellow Unison members who are taking action to protect Barnet’s public services.

Details of the protest can be found here : BARNET NEEDS YOU 1

The programme begins at 1pm prompt in Hackney Town Hall Square with the official Opening. (People may assemble from 12.30). At 2pm the parade will head off across Hackney and Tower Hamlets, ending at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, where a festival will run from 3-7pm. Weavers Fields is next door and offers the option of a picnic.The pa- rade route is approximately 1.4 miles on level ground.

Full details of entertainment and workshops will be updated online at www.eastlondonpride.org.uk

Opening Event/Parade – Hackney Town Hall Sq.

Assemble 12.30pm, event starts 1pm. Parade 2pm.

Stn: Hackney Central. Buses: 26, 38, 48, 55, D6,106, 254, 276, 394

Pride Festival – Oxford House, Bethnal

3-7pm. Oxford House, Derbyshire St., E2 6HG. Station: Bethnal Green. Buses: 8, 388, D3

Join us for a Pride Festival reflecting the diversity of interests and cultures within our communities. From dance to debate, politics to poetry, cabaret to a community marketplace, there’s something for everyone! Enjoy entertainment including Jo Purvis on the decks, Roz Kaveney poet-extraordinaire, MoMo Morrocan music group, & cabaret. Participate in open discussions exposing trans stereotypes, the effect of cuts to LGBTQ services, and community relations issues. Explore the Community Marketplace showcasing local services, community organisations and LGBTQ rights campaigns.

Meet people in the café, bar and chill out zone. Older and younger LGBTQ people, and families, particularly welcomed.