tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30704611.post7758001387993899463..comments2023-05-28T10:59:57.169+01:00Comments on Jon's labour movement blog: Civil Service pensions offer - the best that can be achieved by negotiation?Jon Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10779486527359048519noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30704611.post-60622368078752079522012-05-02T14:15:15.303+01:002012-05-02T14:15:15.303+01:00Given the way Unison lets East Lothian council tre...Given the way Unison lets East Lothian council treat it's care workers I am surprised anyone trusts Unison to defend it's members. I know when I was an ELC employee I had to threaten Unision with legal action so get them to stand up for my rights. It seems Unision did not believe in equal pay! for two people working side by side doing the same job......my action got me a £40 per week pay rise!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30704611.post-6523205921308303892012-04-10T20:56:11.783+01:002012-04-10T20:56:11.783+01:00Yes but PCS has now thrown in its lot with Unite. ...Yes but PCS has now thrown in its lot with Unite. No lay decision, but merger is on the cards. UNISON doesn't feature in their plans at all now.<br>GSs of both unions see it as a left/ right thing but it makes no sense.McCluskey just a short term opportunistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30704611.post-44703726670437585012012-04-08T22:05:58.832+01:002012-04-08T22:05:58.832+01:00Jon - absolutely agree with your comments. We need...Jon - absolutely agree with your comments. We need to put aside any differences at senior official level. This is just too important.<br><br>PCS tried to arrange meetings to discuss the closer working arrangements. But for various reasons they have not taken place. After the conference season renewed efforts should be made to get this to happen.<br><br>On the pensions offer, I accept that we may not get better offer without industrial action. But that is no reason for any form of recommendation to accept. To be clear that "best that can be achieved by negotiation" is code for recommending acceptance.<br><br>We went on strike over contribution rates, RPI/CPI, pension age and less favourable accrual rates. All of these are included in CS pensions offer. So why would any union give the offer any form of positive recommendation to members?<br><br> The only reason might be if you thought there was a danger of it being withdrawn for something worse across all non local government schemes. Realistically there is very little danger of this as they'ge done their worst already. So really can't understand some positions taken by union executives.<br><br>But to conclude where I started. I hope that Unison and PCS can build on the bones of the agreement we have in place I'm next few months.<br>Happy to talk!<br><br>Ian Albert<br>PCS National Executive CommitteeIan Albertnoreply@blogger.com