In redundancy situations the rules governing the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) allow CSCI as an employer the discretion to award additional years' service for pension purposes and/or an enhanced lump sum payment. Most CSCI staff are in the LGPS but some are in the Civil Service and NHS Pension schemes where the rules on redundancy compensation are mandatory.
Although it has done so in the past, CSCI is no longer exercising its discretion to award enhanced redundancy compensation and has cited cost and age discrimination regulations as the reasons for this change. This means that the redundancy compensation being awarded to staff who are LGPS members is significantly worse than what is awarded under the mandatory rules to colleagues who happen to be in the NHS and Civil Service schemes.
UNISON is challenging CSCI's decision and the reasons for it. We are seeking to negotiate fair and equitable arrangements which provide equivalent compensation to all staff and as a result we understand that CSCI is in talks about possible ways of resolving this matter with its sponsor the Department of Health.
In the meanwhile , as part of our campaign, we are looking to take cases to the Pensions Ombudsman to challenge the inequitable treatment of members of the LGPS in redundancy situations.
If you are facing redundancy, and as a member of the LGPS have not been offered any enhanced terms, please fill in the form below and return it to the address indicated. You should also contact your UNISON representative for further support and advice and ensure that any of your colleagues who are in a similar situation and who are UNISON members do so as well. We will then advise you as to whether we can take your case to the Ombudsman and other possible courses of action. Your UNISON representative will also advise you about submitting a grievance.
