Unison Herts

"All we are asking for is equal treatment for our LGPS members with members of other public sector schemes, such as the NHS, civil service and teachers" said Dave Prentis, General Secretary. 

UNISON together with nine other unions, has been trying to negotiate with the government to protect the pension rights of low paid public sector workers in meat hygiene, fire and rescue, police, probation and many other key services.

"There are no Whitehall fat cats, the majority are women working as dinner ladies, teaching assistants, home carers and nursery nurses and most provide crucial services directly to the public" said Prentis.

"The average female LGPS pension is £31 a week, its not much but together with their state pension, it helps to keep these hard working people out of poverty".

According to Prentis, there is still a small window of opportunity to resolve the situation with goodwill on both sides.

"We have done everything we can to persuade the government that these workers deserve to have their pensions protected in the same way as the rest of the public sector but unfortunately the government has refused to see sense" he said.

"On the very same day that the government agreed to protect pension rights for fire fighters, it refused to extend those same rights to LGPS members.

"For a government that says it believes in social justice and gender equality, this is totally inexcusable and it leaves us with no choice but to ballot our members over possible strike action.  We must speak out for those workers who are some of the lowest paid in the country and who committed to paying into the pension scheme to help pay for their retirement".