A parliamentary statement by the local government minister Phil Woolas said the rule will end on 1st October 2006, to comply with proposed government legislation on age discrimination and employment.

But UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis pointed out "The law he is referring to does not yet exist.  We believe the government and the Local Government Assocation (LGA) have the law wrong."  Responding to a claim by LGA, Chair Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart said that the changes are both needed and necessary.  Dave Prentis said "These imposed changes are an attack on LGPS members.

"They have paid 6% of their salary all their working lives.  They are not responsible for the state of the pension schemes.  It is people like Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart who took pensions holidays and reduced funding of the schemes.  Why should our members pay for their mistakes?

While the government statement spoke of appropriate safeguards, which can be objectively justified, for those LGPS members closest to retirement" the union pointed out that this is still less than the protections agreed for existing members of other public sector schemes at the Public Services Forum.

"All we have asked for is the same treatment as other public-sector workers who have their existing pension rights protected.  It is a matter of fairness and equality" said Prentis.

A parliamentary statement said draft regualtions will shortly be circulated for a statutory 12-week consultation.  We have 12 weeks to continue talks and make the government see sense before the order becomes final, said Prentis.

The union will consider any further response to the announcement when activists representing members in the scheme, which includes police and university staff among others, meet on Tuesday 6th December.