Industrial Action
We are being balloted for strike action, with one of the main issues being changes to our pensions. What are these changes?
At
present, there are a number of proposals being considered for changes
to public sector pension schemes from 2015 and more immediate changes
to employees' contribution rates. However, these are only proposals at
the minute and cannot be implemented without changes to the regulations
and relevant consultation. Click here to
find out more about the current situation regarding these proposals,
what they might mean for you and a reminder of the main benefits of
being a Scheme member.
What happens if the strikes go ahead?Any day
you are absent from work without permission due to strike action is not counted
as a day of membership in the Scheme, unless you choose to pay contributions to
cover the period of absence.
What do I
do if I want to pay contributions to cover the period of absence?
If you want to have any period of absence due to
strike action counted as membership, you must pay 16% of your 'lost' pay as
contributions. 'Lost' pay is the difference between the pay you would have
received had you been at work and the lower pay you actually received as a
result of the strike action. Your employer does not make any contribution on
your behalf for strike days. No break in service will be recorded on your
pension record and any day of strike action will count as a day of membership.
If
you wish to pay contributions to cover any period of absence due to strike
action, you must advise your employer in writing of your decision within 30
days of returning to work after the absence.
What happens
if I do not want to pay contributions to cover the period of absence?
If you choose
not to pay the 16% contributions on your lost pay, the number of days you were
absent due to the strike action will not be counted as membership. A break in service
will be recorded on your pension record and your pension benefits will be
slightly lower than they would have been as they will be based on a lower
number of days membership.
If strike
action occurs in your final 12 months of employment and you choose not to pay
contributions to cover it, it may result in a lower pensionable pay being used
in pension calculations. This means that your benefits could be slightly lower
than they would have been had you chosen to cover the break or if you were not
involved in any strike action.
If
you do not want to pay the contributions to cover the break, you do not need to
take any action. Your employer will advise us of the days you were absent from
work and we will record these on your pension record.
What should I do if I have a contract to buy added years or am paying ARCs or AVCs?
If
you have a contract to buy added years or are paying Additional Regular
Contributions, you must continue to make payments based on your normal pay,
disregarding any strike action.
If
you are paying Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) or Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (SCAVCs)
you can choose whether or not you wish to continue payments during a period of strike
action. However, if your AVC or SCAVC relates to life cover, you should
continue to make contributions to ensure the life cover does not lapse.