Pensions: changes and challenges

Wednesday 26 February 2014

A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
9.30am – 3.30pm

About the Conference

The issue of pensions affects huge numbers of men and women and is at the top of the trades unions’ agenda to protect workers’ rights. The world of pensions is changing fast and now, more than ever, it is vital that trade unionists and others who protect workers’ rights understand the implications of these changes – both for people currently receiving a pension and for all of us who will be affected in
years to come.

There are two significant pieces of legislation: The Public Service Pension Act which received royal assent in April 2013 and the Pensions Bill 2013 which is still going through the parliamentary process.

The Public Service Pension Act affects workers in the public services – the NHS, the civil service, teachers and the armed forces – and has introduced a number of reforms including increasing the average contributions that scheme members must pay; linking the amount of pension benefit that a person receives on retirement to their average salary rather than to their final salary; and linking the Normal Pension Age (NPA) to the State Pension Age (SPA) so that people can now only claim their pension when they reach state retirement age of 67.

The Pensions Bill proposes changes to the state pension which includes the introduction of a ‘single-tier’ state pension, which would replace the current system of a basic state pension plus an earnings-related state second pension. It is argued that this will lead to some simplification of the State pension but this will be a long-time coming and, crucially, the proposed rate of £146.30 per week in current terms, is much too low. In the longer term the reforms mean that most working people will end up receiving a significantly lower State pension. And the reforms do nothing for existing pensioners.

Further proposed changes include the abolition of contracting out, where people who have contracted out don’t accumulate a state second pension but instead pay a lower rate of NICs; an acceleration of the increase in the state pension age to 67; and regular reviews of state pension age via a mechanism to hold a compulsory review of the state pension age at least every six years.

Pensions will be one of the key battlegrounds in the coming general election and this conference will provide the experts and the arguments to enable trade unionists to arm themselves and challenge the Coalition’s attack on pensions.

Cost

A discount is available to those who pay upfront (before the date of the conference) either online or by cheque. Those who pay by invoice will pay full price.

Location

The Adelphi Hotel

Ranelagh Place

Liverpool

L3 5UL

Additional Information

Click here for information on how to book, who should attend and CPD, NPP and EPP Accreditation

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Three easy ways to book your place

1. Book online with Paypal or a credit/debit card
   

   Please select the appropriate option from below

   IER subscriber £75.00 GBPTrade union member £90.00 GBPCommercial £220.00 GBPStudent/unwaged £25.00 GBP

   Delegate name(s):

   Name of union/organisation:

   

2. Book by cheque by filling out our booking form and returning it in the post
3. Book by invoice by filling out our booking form and returning it in the post

Speakers

Chaired by Carolyn Jones, Director of the Institute of Employment Rights

Craig Berry, University of Sheffield
Third Time Lucky: building a progressive pensions consensus

Christine Haswell, PCS
Developments in public sector pensions: new ‘Fair Deal’ arrangements

Glyn Jenkins, UNISON
If public service pensions survive, can they halt the decline for everyone else?

Andrew Morris, Head of Pensions, NUT
Teachers’ pensions: a perspective from the NUT

Neil Duncan-Jordan, National Pensioners Convention
The single-tier state pension

Ben Collins, Old Square Chambers
Age Discrimination

Bryn Davies, Director, Union Pension Services Thompsons
Pensions: where next?

Click here to download the full programme