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Contrasting approaches in HE pay talks

University and college employers today welcomed the constructive progress made in negotiations with the four unions representing higher education support staff. But they were surprised that, despite a significant shift in the employers’ position, the academic staff unions, AUT and NATFHE, refused to minimise the risk of long-term damage to students caused by their assessment boycott.

In discussions facilitated by ACAS, the employers had made clear that:
• an offer of pay increases totalling 6% over two years was on the table
• they wanted AUT and NATFHE to join the formal negotiations so an improved offer could be made to all unions within the next week (including exploration of a possible three year deal), and
• they were aiming to secure a settlement acceptable to all parties within a fortnight.

So as to join these negotiations the employers asked AUT and NATFHE to protect the future position of students by setting and marking examinations, even if they chose to withhold the marks until a settlement is reached; or, at the very least, to suspend the other elements of their industrial action (eg refusing to cover for absent colleagues).

Jocelyn Prudence, Chief Executive of UCEA, said:

“We were very surprised that despite the employers making clear our readiness to improve on the 6% offer previously tabled and our willingness to be flexible on negotiating arrangements, the AUT and NATFHE refused the opportunity to avoid risk of long-term damage to students.”

In contrast, negotiations between employers and the four support staff unions made constructive progress towards a pay settlement which would apply from August 2006. In particular they agreed on the need for a settlement to address the needs of the lowest-paid staff in the sector, and to reinforce local implementation of the Framework Agreement regarding the principle of equal pay for work of equal value and involvement of all recognised unions. Further detailed discussions on these points will be held over the next week.

Geoffrey Copland, Chair of UCEA, said:

“We welcome the constructive approach adopted by the support staff unions in these negotiations and believe that we will be able to reach agreement with them on a settlement which is acceptable to both sides, well before pay increases are due in August.”

A further meeting is being arranged for early May, when it is hoped that the academic staff unions will join the formal negotiations. Meanwhile, those unions and the employers will be reflecting further on their positions and ACAS will facilitate further talks next week.

JUST LGPS JOINT TRADE UNIONS STATEMENT

The new Joint Statement with the Local Government Association (LGA) attached marks a major step forward in seeking to resolve the ongoing dispute over changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. It follows a magnificent day of action on 28th March which saw the largest strike this country has seen since the General Strike in 1926. This strike was decisive in making the LGA change its position and sign up to the joint statement, with the support of the TUC.

The statement provides a framework for immediate negotiations and addresses the major concerns which have underpinned our dispute. It improves upon the statement made public by the LGA on the 7th April.

The key points in the Joint Statement are:

• The recognition that an agreement must be reached urgently on agreed costings and savings. The unions have retained the leading City firm of actuaries – AON – to support the negotiations. Their work has already made a substantial impact on the calculations of the costs of protection and savings by the Government Actuaries Department. They have shown that there is enough money to provide full protection and make improvements to the future scheme

• The agreement that 50% of the savings arising from abolition of the 85 Rule and the provision for a 25% tax free lump sum will be made available to provide protection and scheme improvements, in line with other public sector schemes

• A commitment to urgent negotiations on protection, including full protection for existing members, alongside discussions on the new scheme

• An agreement that any future changes to the LGPS should be made by agreement, rather than imposition by the Deputy Prime Minister wherever possible

• An agreement to amend the existing Regulations to reflect the outcome of the negotiations before the 85 Rule is removed on 1 October

The joint unions took strike action on 28 March to bring the employers back to the negotiating table. We have achieved that and now a negotiating timetable will now be drawn up and shared with members. However, should the negotiations fail we have made it clear to both the Government and the LGA that we will not hesitate to re-start the action.

It was recognised that negotiations would also continue in Scotland – and Northern Ireland where appropriate – and that full support would be given to the trade unions there in attempting to secure parallel agreements.

Branch Meeting on Wednesday 19th

AMICUS
East London 0338 Branch


Notice of Branch Meeting

Date: Wednesday 19th April 2006

Time: 6.30pm PROMPT
(Please note we now need to start on time, as we may need to be out by 8.00pm)

Venue: University of East London
Student Union Bar (If available) if not check at Reception.
Romford Road
Stratford E15 4LZ
Bar is just past the main building entrance in Romford Road but it is best to use the main entrance. Car parking will be available in the car park at the rear of the University.
Refreshments will be provided.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of March 2006 Meeting.
3. Matters Arising.
4. Correspondence.
5. Membership.
6. Group Reports.
7. Other Reports.
8. Any Other Business.
If you have not received a copy of the Minutes of the Last Meeting copies will available at this meeting.
I do hope to see you or a member of your group present for this branch meeting.
The Branch likes to encourage members new and old to participate in its activities and members can be assured of a warm welcome. Meetings are a good opportunity for members to update us on what is happening in their workplace, to participate in the debate on current issues and have a drink with friends. The venue is licensed.

Future 2006 Meeting Dates
May 17th, June 21st, July 19th, Aug. No Meeting,
Sept. 20th (General Meeting), Oct. 18th, Nov.15th, Dec.20th
(All are Wednesdays)

Branch Secretary: D. Bingham, The Tilings, 6b, Carlton Road, Erith, Kent. Tel: 01322 336489
E-MAIL: d.bingham@virgin.net

Minutes of last Branch Meeting

ATTENDANCE

21/06 C. Easter Chair

D. Bingham Secretary

T. Britton Treasurer

J. Watts Assistant Secretary

D. Kennedy U.E.L. Group

E. Kiff U.E.L. Group

N. Seeley U.E.L. Group

22/06 Apologies & New Delegates:

Apologies: P. Donovan

23/06 Minutes of February 2006 Meeting:

Read & Agreed.

24/06 Matters Arising:

14/06 re 05/06(a) Brent Trades Council – no further progress.

14/06 re 05/06(d) Still no more Rule Books.

19/06 AFR are confirmed as required by end March, but we still have not seen the form for submission from Head Office. Treasurer to chase up.

25/06 Correspondence:

(a)Camden Trades Council. Still trying to get us to affiliate. Noted.

(b) NEC Minutes. These are for last November. Still too much delay in receiving these.

(c) Latin America and the Unions. Noted.

(d) Honorarium. Secretary and Treasurer have both received this year’s. Noted

(e) Student Union Invoice for our room hirer. £60 this time. Treasurer will arrange payment.

26/06 Membership:

U.E.L Group did receive proper notification this time about their new member. T. Britton has corrected Head Office U.E.L. Group details again and now believes they are 10% accurate.

27/06 Group Reports:

U.E.L. Group:
Barking precinct has now been sold, possibly for £36 Million and U.E.L need to be out by April 2007. This means there is a restructuring process and redeployment of staff going on, including among others E. Kiff. One of our members in the sports centre has been offered a voluntary severance deal, but has not yet made up his mind as to if this is an acceptable package. E.Kiff is part of “Estates” and members here are effected, but it is likely that there will be more fulltime post overall. Meetings are ongoing and an agreement needs to be reached by May 31^st.

Pensions Strike ballot was a bit late but this was no bad thing. Turnout was 45% with the majority in favour and no votes against strike action. Members now awaiting a Government statement before deciding date of strike action. The most likely date is 28^th March. In Amicus as a whole 2,400 voted For strike action & 240 Against.

HERA, two key meetings are scheduled for end April & beginning of May to look at issues where there has not been agreement.
NUPLEXGroup:
Still ticking along. There is a communications meeting in a few weeks time. There was a visit last Tuesday from the MD to consider putting in a new reactor. A visit by DuPont holds out hope of a 10-year deal.

PPG:
Not negotiating over pay as they have no Rep. although we have membership here. They only know what happens when they receive their pay packet.

28/06 Other Reports:

None.

29/06 Any Other Business:

C. Easter is attending Works Council meeting in Wetherby and is asking for assistance with expenses.

Agreed £50.

THERE BEING NO OTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT 7.53 PM

AMICUS 0338. THE UNION BRANCH FOR SKILLED & PROFESSIONALS IN EAST LONDON

News from the TUC - Local Government Pensions

At a meeting of all the unions representing members covered by the Local Government Pension scheme this morning (Wednesday) a proposed joint statement with the Local Government Association was unanimously recommended for endorsement. Each of the unions will now urgently be holding their necessary internal consultations on that recommendation.

The joint statement, which has already been endorsed by the Local Government Association, is the result of detailed informal discussions over recent days. It establishes the framework for the detailed negotiations on future local government pensions.

To facilitate these negotiations it is being recommended that all the industrial action currently planned should be suspended.

Commenting on behalf of all the trade unions, TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber said:

'I am very pleased that it has now been possible to agree with the Local Government Employers a sensible framework for the detailed negotiations necessary on the future of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Those negotiations will focus on the proper protections for the pension arrangements of existing staff and the long term. The industrial action by workers covered by the LGPS demonstrated their absolute determination to secure pensions justice. These negotiations now offer a positive route forward to secure fairness and high quality pensions for all workers covered by the LGPS in the future.'

'It is intended that these negotiations will be commenced urgently.'

Local Government Pension Scheme Joint Statement

1. The statement by the Minister for Local Government on 30^th March laying Parliamentary Orders, including the Order to abolish the Rule of 85 from October 2006, provides a framework for developing a new-look scheme. He said that 'in the light of discussions held yesterday with the Trade Unions and Local Government Employers, we are calling on both sides to begin talks, to start now on a nothing rule in nothing ruled out basis, to address the protection of existing Scheme members, the recycling of savings, and the development of a more equitable Scheme'.

The Minister also said on 28^th March that 'a key element of these discussions which have already begun within the framework provided by the Tripartite Committee will be to address positively the concerns expressed about the position of existing scheme members who contrast their particular circumstances with the agreement reached in October 2005 by other but unfunded public service Pension Schemes. The government intends that these reforms can be guided by the principle that up to half of the savings achieved by the final removal of the rule of 85 can be re-cycled into the development of whatever benefit package is felt by the Stakeholders and membership to be appropriate for the new-look 2008 Scheme'.

2. All participants are firmly committed to change in pension provision, now and in the future, being made by agreement as far as possible, respecting the role of the DPM as regulator.

3. This commitment to create a new-look scheme should encompass all issues raised by the participants within the context of the Parliamentary orders and related Ministerial statements. The scheme must be sustainable and affordable for employers and as a key element of the renumeration, recruitment and retention package for Local Government employees and those belonging to admitted bodies.

4. The following specific action points are emphasised by the participants to be addressed during this process:

Work to resolve the outstanding differences in relevant actuarial assessments to be undertaken immediately and all emerging proposals to be assessed by professional advisers appointed by the participants.

50% of the savings accruing from the abolition of the Rule of 85, and of savings from the revised commutation arrangements, to be made available to fund scheme improvements, including protection arrangements for existing staff, and creating a more equitable and affordable Scheme.

Urgent negotiations to take place incorporating discussions on affordable protection to existing staff, including full protection, and on developing a good quality, sustainable and affordable new-look LGPS going forward, equality proofed with greater choice and flexibility on when and how members move from employment to retirement and having regard to the respective contributions of employers and employees, taking account of appropriate actuarial and legal advice.

5. All participants are committed to concluding the first phase of these negotiations in order to report to the Tripartite Committee in June. The Minister said in his 30th March statement that 'the Government stands prepared to introduce further amendments before the summer recess to update the regulations in the light of any agreed proposals which emerge from the talks between the Trade Unions and Local Government Employers'.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07881 622416 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (800 words) issued 12 Apr 2006