Lambeth Council to debate pensions dispute

Following constructive discussions with the trade unions, Lambeth’s Labour Deputy Leader, Councillor Jackie Meldrum, has proposed Motion 13 to the Council Meeting next Wednesday evening, 9 November. The motions to the Council meeting are available online here.

This motion supports the trade union position in the current dispute with the Government over public service pensions – and in particular the trade dispute with the Secretary of State over the Local Government Pension Scheme which is set to lead to strike action on 30 November.

Councillor Meldrum’s motion states that the Council is disappointed that the Government has continually failed to negotiate fully and openly with Local Authorities and Trade Unions and regret that this has therefore made industrial action more likely. Council supports the Trade Unions in raising awareness of this issue and local government employees in defending their pension scheme. The motion then asks the Council to resolve to ask the Leader to write to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to express Council’s concerns and urge the Government to rethink their proposals.

Unfortunately, Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, Councillor Ashley Lumsden has proposed an ill-advised and ill-informed amendment to the motion which supports the Government rather than the trade unions, citing “demographic circumstances” which have nothing whatsoever to do with the Government’s deliberate cash grab on the LGPS. UNISON has offered to attend a meeting with Liberal Democrat Councillors to explain why they are going wrong!

UNISON and the other trade unions will be lobbying Councillors next Wednesday evening to support Motion 13 – and oppose Councillor Lumsden’s foolish amendment.