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UNISON Lancashire Police Staff Branch |
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May 17, 2012
Pensions....NEGOTIATIONS EDGING TOWARDS CONCLUSION
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Negotiations on the proposals for the ‘new’ LGPS are moving closer towards a conclusion. We hope that it won’t be too long before we can let you all know what the outcome has been. Both the unions and the LGA team have done our very best to protect you - the LGPS members - and the scheme for the future. We want more people to join it and for it to be sustainable far into the future.
Thank you for your patience. The negotiating team realises that it has been difficult for you all to wait so long, but it has been a painstaking process and we needed to get it right. Negotiations are still ongoing on ‘Workstream 2’ – the new governance arrangements for the scheme and the ‘cap and collar’ arrangements. Obviously your negotiators are seeking to ensure what UNISON has long campaigned for – member nominated reps with real say within local funds – as well as at overall fund level. We have made it clear that we expect them to be nominated by UNISON and other unions so that there is collective accountability and established mechanisms for feed-back to members.
What happens next?
Once we have agreed the final details of the proposals and they are cleared by the Treasury and DCLG Ministers, we will make them public. We are already working on paper and e-materials so that they are ready to go out to you by every means possible!
Within UNISON, we will be holding briefings in Regions and there will be a PowerPoint which can be used at local level. The Service Groups with members in the LGPS – Local Government, Police and Justice, Higher Education, Water, Environment and Transport and Community – will then meet to make recommendations on the proposals which will form the basis of a ballot of all eligible members. We want to ensure that members know about the proposals and as many as possible vote in the ballot.
Public Service Pensions Bill – what does it mean for LGPS members?
Some of you have asked what the Public Service Pensions Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech recently means for LGPS members – or potential members?
The answer is that the specific announcement made about the ‘three largest schemes’ referred to the Teachers’, NHS and Civil Service schemes, although aspects of the Bill – including proposals for better governance – will apply to the LGPS. The LGPS Project Team has made a joint statement about the announcement which is on the LGPS web site at www.lgps.org.uk .
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April 30, 2012
Pensions - Negotiations Ongoing
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You will all understandably be wondering what is happening in the negotiations over the LGPS. At this point in time, negotiations are continuing and are heading in a positive direction. There are still one or two issues which need to be concluded, but we are hopeful that we will be in a position to brief members and activists on the proposals in the not-too-distant future. Once materials have been distributed and briefings taken place, the five Service Group Executives covered by the LGPS will meet to make their recommendations before we start a ballot of all members of those Service groups. They are: Local Government, Police and Justice, Community, Higher Education and Water, Environment and Transport (WET).
We have been discussing the scheme for the future from 2014 and governance arrangements in the new scheme. This has involved absorbing and negotiating on the basis of very detailed information on the LGPS, taken from 2010 valuations, data from the Government Actuaries Department (GAD) and the Treasury. We want to do the very best by you – LGPS members – and so the process has taken rather longer than we anticipated. We will be meeting again this week and the start of next week, but hope to move soon after that to a conclusion.
As soon as we have concluded the negotiations, we will let you all know what the proposals are. Your Regions are being kept informed of the state-of-play so that they are in a position to organise briefings as soon as possible.
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April 17, 2012
Health and Safety....WE NEED YOU!!!
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MAKE YOUR WORKPLACE SAFE
Every year thousands of people suffer accidents and ill-health at work. Most of this is avoidable. In a survey, most members identified health and safety as the most important workplace issue for them.
Health and Safety in our workplaces is a vital issue for each and every one of us. Your employer has a legal duty to provide you with a safe working environment and safe working practices. If they do not, UNISON is here to challenge them. The job
is important and very rewarding.
This work depends on us having local safety representatives in every workplace. Why not become one?
CAN ANYONE BECOME A UNISON SAFETY REP?
Yes, if you are a UNISON member and even if you are already a Steward. It does not matter if you work full or part time, as long as:
[*] You are employed in that workplace
[*] The members vote for you
[*] The union informs your employer in writing that you are a UNISON safety rep
WHAT DOES THE JOB INVOLVE?
If you decide to become a rep, your job will be to look after the health and safety needs of the UNISON members who work with you. You will have powers to:
[*] Investigate complaints on behalf of members
[*] Address problems you notice or that members bring to your attention
[*] Carry out health and safety inspections of your workplace at least four times a year
[*] Demand information if it affects the health and safety or your members
[*] Have time off with pay to do your job as a health and safety rep and to attend trade union courses
The regulations which give you these rights also make it very clear that you are not legally liable for anything you do or fail to do as a safety rep.
DO YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
If you are interested in knowing more about becoming a health and safety rep, contact your Branch Secretary, Maureen Le Marinel or Branch Health and Safety Officer, Dave Hodge. They can give you full details of the work involved, time off facilities and training provisions.
UNISON needs as much support as we can get to keep up the pressure for decent working conditions more than ever, especially in these times of cut backs where your health and safety is not considered a priority. So if any of your colleagues are not yet in UNISON, why not encourage them to join?
HEALTH & SAFETY - UNISON'S COMMITMENT
In UNISON health and safety will always be a major priority. We will use our experience to campaign to ensure that all our members' working conditions meet proper health and safety standards.
Every year we will be taking up hundreds of cases of management neglect in the workplace. Our commitment to good health and safety will make employers sit up and take notice.
INTERESTED?
For information, ask your Branch Secretary Maureen Le Marinel or Branch Health and safety Officer Dave Hodge for details.
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February 13, 2012
The Menopause at Work
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The menopause, also known as the 'change of life', marks the time when a woman's periods stop. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 and the average age for a woman to reach the menopause in the UK is 52. Periods generally become less frequent, the odd period is missed and then they stop altogether. A woman is said to have reached the menopause once she has not had a period for one year. After this point, she can be described as post-menopausal.
The TUC has produced a useful guide on this subject and can be found here
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February 13, 2012
Petion Request
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Please assist and sign the petion against FORCED ACADEMIES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The Government's threatens to force primary schools in Haringey to become academies are undemocratic and threaten to reverse many of the improvements made in those schools in the last year; note that these forced changes are opposed by parents, governors and teachers at those schools; further note that the academies policy of the previous administration did not force schools to become academies against their will; understands that the Secretary of State for Education is threatening schools in other areas, including Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Durham, Essex, Kent, Lancashire, Leeds and Northamptonshire; we believe that raising and maintaining high standards in primary schools is vitally important but that the most successful approaches work with the school community; notes that there are many methods of raising standards apart from forcing academies, but that the Secretary of State has ignored these methods; and calls on the Government to end its policy of forcing primary schools to become academies and to work with parents, governors and teachers to raise standards.
Click here to sign
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February 10, 2012
2012 Branch AGM
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| Don't forget all members of this branch are invited to attend the AGM on Thursday 1st March at 4pm in the Connelly Room at HQ. There will be a free prize draw for all attending members with the top prize being a 4 night family holiday to UNISON's Croyde Bay Holiday Village in North Devon, along with several othersupermarket shopping vouchers.
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January 15, 2012
UNISON Members Winter Fuel Grant
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There for You launches winter fuel grants programme 2012
With rising fuel costs affecting many UNISON members, There For You starts the New Year with the launch of its Winter Fuel Grants programme.
Grants of up to £50 per household are available to members on low income. Apply by completing the 'Winter Fuel Grants' application form, conditions apply.
Please note that this is a limited fund (conditions apply) with grants of up to £50 available to members on low income. Applications must be received by 29 February 2012. Click here for application form .
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January 15, 2012
UNISON Message regarding the Police Arbitration Tribunal Award
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Some of you may be aware that the National Police Federation lodged an Arbitration case in relation to Winsor Part 1 and the recommendations contained in it. This was lodged as it was the view that the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) that Winsor Part 1 be implemented this was also endorsed by a letter from Therese May, Home Secretary to both the PNB and the Police Staff Council (PSC).
In her letter Ms May indicated that she required the recommendations to be implemented with immediate effect. Ms May was informed that she did not have the same authority over the Police Staff Council that she did on PNB so her letter to the Chair of the Employer side of the PSC was worded in such a way as to request that discussion take place with the Trade Union Side to consider their implementation. The Trade Union Side made it very clear that they would consider the request but that her timescale for implementation, April 2011, would not be achieved. Those discussions are still ongoing.
The arbitration tribunal decision was published earlier this week. UNISON wishes to inform its members of the following:
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The Police Negotiating Board (PNB) and the Police Arbitration Tribunal Award has NO direction over Police Staff.
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Winsor recommendation 20 accepted by the PAT, which states that: ‘Police officers and all members of police staff below the top of their scale should be suspended at that increment for a two-year period commencing September 2011’
Members should be reassured that the PAT’s acceptance of this Winsor recommendation relates solely to Police Officers.
This recommendation, as it relates to Police Staff, is still under discussion at the Police Staff Council and will be the subject of further talks. We expect to receive an update from National Office following the PSC Pay and Reward Working Party which takes place this week.
The Branch has written to the Chief Constable Steve Finnigan today requesting that the Constabulary issue information and reassurance to staff regarding the Arbitration decision.
The Branch will keep its members informed on this very important issue as information is available.
Remember the Lancashire Police Branch Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Thursday 1st March 2012 at 4.00pm in the Connolly Room at Police HQ. It is hoped that Malcolm Doherty, Chair of the Police Authority will be in attendance to address the AGM. Mr Doherty is the Chair of the National Police Staff Council and he has been invited to address members on Winsor.
Maureen Le Marinel
Branch Secretary
Lancashire Police UNISON Branch
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December 19, 2011
Local Government Pension Scheme Update
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Since 30 November the LGA has moved quickly to establish some consensus over the direction of travel within the LGPS and establish some joint principles and a timetable for negotiation, starting in January.
The government and the LGA have accepted that the LGPS is different from the other public sector pension schemes because it is a funded scheme and has assets of around £140 billion at current prices.
There are some key points of agreement between the LGPS unions and the LGA:
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No change until 2014 - avoiding any change before the 2013 valuation
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Prevention of opt outs and maximising of membership to keep the scheme sustainable
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Independent and robust equality proofing at every stage
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Adequate time for unions and employers to consult at key stages of the process
There have been NO negotiations on the detail of future contributions or the design of the new scheme, though they will start in earnest in January, with a view to Regulations being laid in time for the 2013 valuation.
We have had to have Chatham House negotiations between ourselves and the LGA, while trying to get the Government on board.
We will not know for sure that we can proceed until Eric Pickles as Secretary of State gives the all-clear, which may not be until Tuesday.
We are optimistic that he will say yes and also that Communities and Local Government will agree to suspend the statutory consultation underway on contribution increases.
As soon as we have agreement and a public announcement is made, the principles and timetable will be sent to you.
There will be a briefing for Service Group Executives (SGE) covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) on 10 January, alongside the Pension Summit, when SGE members within the LGPS will be able to respond to the principles and timetable and agree the next steps.
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December 5, 2011
A GREAT big Thank You!
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Colleagues, thank you, what a great historic and successful day the 30 November 2011 was.
It is believed that between 800 and 900 of our members took part in the day, from taking strike action, joining one of the picket lines, being on one of the marches or attending one of the rallies taking place around the county.
We received many messages of support from many of our colleagues who cannot take this course of action but fully support our cause. In the months to come they will be in a very similar situation to you and I am sure that we will be supporting them in whatever stance they can take.
You should all be very proud of yourselves, being involved in the biggest day of action to protect your pension rights that this country has seen in over 60 years. Each of the 4 rallies saw at least 2000 people attending each of them, that's 8000 in Lancashire alone, and some of these were members of the communities that you serve who are supporting the action we are being forced to take.
We got some great media coverage with many of our members appearing in TV reports or being quoted in the press.
I believe that the Government got a very clear message from Public Sector Workers that they did not expect, I truly believe they thought that the action would not be supported. But the extra-ordinarily high numbers of workers taking action and the significant the support shown by the public was fantastic. Every march that took place saw members of the public applauding those marching a great sight to see which gave a boost to the marchers.
What happens next - as the UNISON and the other Trade Unions have always said we will meet to negotiate anytime, anyplace, anywhere and this is still the case. Some meetings have already taken place and I will be receiving an update when I am in London next week. When I have more information we will update the website to keep you fully informed.
On behalf of all the Branch Officers and Stewards I want to place on record our thanks to all our members, we fully understand that the decision you had to make to take action or not is never an easy one, and whatever your decision we respect this. I have heard some rumours that many think that either by taking action it will affect your role or application for roles within the Constabulary or it will affect your UNISON Membership? Can I make it very clear this is not the case, I have spoken to ACC White and Ashley Judd, both have confirmed that this is absolute rubbish so no matter who is saying this please do not believe them. In respect of UNISON membership this will not be affected and anyone telling you different should be referred to one of the fulltime officers in the UNISON Office.
Finally please keep yourself updated by checking the branch website (www.unisonlancashirepolice.co.uk) regularly or join the branch Facebook page.
Maureen LeMarinel - UNISON Lancashire Police Branch Secretary
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November 29, 2011
Industrial Action - Press Release
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UNISON
Lancashire Police Branch Members to take Strike Action
UNISON’s Branch Secretary and Vice President Maureen Le Marinel has called on all members working within Lancashire Constabulary to join the thousands of Public Sector Workers across Lancashire taking Industrial Action on Wednesday 30 November 2011 in protest to the attacks on their Pensions. UNISON and 19 other trade unions will be coming together as one across the
North West and the country.
Mrs Le Marinel said “Strike action is never an easy decision for any worker to make. It is even more difficult when our grievances are not with Lancashire Constabulary but with Government Ministers, so we are left with no other choice than to join the day of action. For our members within policing to take such action and they will only do so as a last resort, our members within Lancashire Constabulary are proud to work within the emergency service and are proud of the service that they provide to the communities within Lancashire.
But what else can they do when they are being told to work longer for less? The government ministers who should have been negotiating with unions on changes to the Public Sector Schemes for the last 9 months have not put any effort in to resolve the outstanding issues, it is only since the unions went to ballot their members that they have commenced in any talks, how can this be right? The unions and in particular our General Secretary Dave Prentice has said for the last 8 weeks that we will sit round a table right up to the 30 November anytime and any place. But all Danny Alexander has done is make announcements in Parliament - not at the negotiating table - so to say there is a deal is a lie.
With the recent survey showing that 61% of the public support Public Sector Workers in taking action, the Government need to listen. It is now not just the unions talking but the countries general public who use Public Services. We would ask members of all communities across Lancashire to understand that the action we are taking is not taken lightly, we are not only fighting to protect our pensions but we are fighting to protect those retired Public Sector Workers who are already in receipt of a pension as they have already been affected by the change from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to Consumer Price Index (CPI) and this was done with no consultation at all. It is action like this that angers all public sector workers across the country. We are also fighting for the future of our Pension Scheme and our sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters who may work in the Public Sector in the future.
The government say everyone needs to save towards their retirement, I say, is that not what we are doing by paying into a Pension Scheme? The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is sustainable for another 15 years even if everyone came out of the scheme, but this is something that we do not want our members to do, but if members are required to contribute another 3.2%, (a 50% increase in real terms) the most scandalous element of the ministers proposals is that this additional contribution we are being asked to pay will not go into the pension fund, how can this be reasonable? Our members will have some hard choices to make – feed and clothe their children, heat their homes or pay into a pension scheme that is going to pay out less in the long term.
These are the facts that government are not telling you, but this is the reality that is faced by our members.
Whilst we have called on our entire membership to take action, we understand that we work within an emergency service and we have worked with the Constabulary in order to ensure that they have essential cover over the 24hr period. We have also given a commitment to the Chief Constable that should a major incident occur we will not hesitate to call emergency workers back to work to ensure that the public of
Lancashire are not put in a life threatening position and I will be available for the full 24hr period to ensure that this promise is upheld.
Our members will be picketing the Constabulary HQ and each of the Territorial Divisional HQ, Blackpool, Lancaster, Chorley, Preston, Blackburn and
Burnley . We will then be joining the Marches and rallies taking place in Blackpool, Preston, Blackburn and
Lancaster and we hope that our members and members of all communities will join us in showing a strength of feeling that this country has not seen for over 50 years. The event will be a family day as we know many of our members will have children off school and we say bring them along as there will be activities for them to do.”
ENDS
Contact : Maureen Le Marinel, 07956852839
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November 29, 2011
Industrial Action and Picketing Information
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As you will be aware there is a National Day of Industrial Action taking place on Wednesday 30 November 2011. Lancashire Constabulary Police Staff UNISON Members will be taking part in the action; this message is to inform you of the Picket locations and other events.
At midnight it has been agreed that a UNISON Steward will attend each Contact Centre, this is two fold, to support members who may have never had to take Industrial Action before and are nervous about leaving the workplace and to assist
the room Team Leaders in retaining staff should there be a major incident ongoing. In the case where a major incident is taking place the Steward will contact either Maureen Le Marinel (07956 852 839) or James Tattersall (07506 736 514) and inform
them and agree a process.
Contact Centre Steward
Blackpool Sharon Birch
Lancaster Karen Poole
Southern (HQ) Luke Barber
Preston Helen Duerden
Blackburn Kathy Richards / Ali Garrity
Burnley James Tattersall
Picket Lines will be situated at;
Location Head Steward
Police HQ, Michelle Le Marinel
Blackpool Central, Helen Fullalove / Brian Gowrie
Lancaster DHQ, Karen Poole
Chorley Police Station, Yvonne Harrison
Preston DHQ, Norma Partington / Helen Duerden
Blackburn DHQ, Dave Hodge
Burnley DHQ. Pam Hennigan / James Tattersall
We need as many members as possible to help us staff the Picket Lines and hope that you will be able to join a Picket Line to show your support, it is envisaged that there maybe Radio Stations and Television Stations travelling round Lancashire to
various sites we need to show that our members support the action we are taking to protect our pensions.
Picket Lines will be staffed from approximately 0600hrs - 1100hrs after this time they will depart to join one of the 4 marches/rallies taking place across the county; details of which can be found on this blog below.
If there are any problems or concerns it is requested that UNISON be informed as soon as possible, Maureen LeMarinel will be on 24 hrs cover and contactable on 07956 852 839 or James Tattersall on 07506 736 514.
It is not anticipated that there will be any issues on the day.
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November 23, 2011
Industrial Action UPDATE
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Colleagues as you are aware UNISON and their members are taking part in a 24 hour strike on Wednesday 30th November. The strike starts at midnight on the 30th and finishes 24 hours later. The branch will be running picket lines at 7 different locations throughout the force these will be at:
Pennine Division - Outside Burnley Police Station
Eastern Division - Outside Greenbank
Central division - OutsidePreston Ops Centre
Southern Division - Outside Chorley Police Station
Western Division - Outside Blackpool Police Station
Northern Division - Outside Lancaster Police Station
G/H/HQ Division - Outside HQ Hutton
The picket lines will run from 6am to around 11am. UNISON officials will then travel to one of the rallies shown below and we would like as many members as possible to join us. The rallies will include a march, speeches and then a minute of noise at 1pm further details can be found on the following link www.unisonnw.org.uk
Blackburn - Assembly Point is King William Street at 11.30am.
Blackpool - Assembly Point is St Johns Church, Town Centre at 12.00pm
Lancaster - Assembly point is Dalton square at 11.00
Preston - Assembly Point is Avenham Park at 11.00am
The branch will be holding a committee meeting on Monday to finalise the arrangements for the strike and we will update members via the website and Facebook pages after the meeting.
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November 22, 2011
Members Industrial Action Information
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The below link provides you with information in order to address some of the concerns that members are already raising with us. Please read the whole document as it may answer your concerns, if there are any concerns not answered then please contact the Branch Office on 412789.
MEMBERS INDUSTRIAL ACTION INFORMATION - Click Here
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November 16, 2011
Message regarding Annual Leave 2012/13 for Contact Management Staff
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As you are all aware there have been some significant negotiations around the Annual Leave Rota 2012/13. The main issues that remain are - "2 off on earlies, 2 off on lates and 1 off on nights, UNISON do not believe that these numbers will give staff the opportunity to take there main leave within the summer months and requested 2-2-2. The other is the defini...tion a 'night shift' - this has been clarified as 1700-0300 and 2100-0700. Therefore the 1600-0200 will not impact on the person
taking annual leave on nights. Management agreed to give further clarity to staff.
UNISON today (16/11/11) met with the Head of the Department, the Operations Manager and a member of the panning team in order to try and move forward on these issues.
Following further discussions UNISON informed the Management that we cannot agree the rota as we believe that there may be potential for challenge from our members and that if this is the case we may need to refer these challenges to our legal advisors.
Management have informed UNISON that they now intend to implement the rota under the criteria of 'Operational Resilience'. The Head of the Department and the Operations Manager indicated that they intend to run 'staff briefings' on all issues for contact management before Christmas.
What has been agreed is that at anytime either side can request the criteria to be revisited if there is clear evidence that the Leave Rota is not working or there appears to be case of discrimination.
Both sides are very disappointed that we have not been able to agree.
UNISON are under no illusion that this will be very disappoint news for our members and we would ask that you keep us updated on any circumstances that may arise in order that we can collate information as should there be an opportunity to challenge we will need the information provided by you.
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