This is a follow-on from previous week summaries and they should be read first. (Expect some duplication, nevertheless.)

AMIPP WEBSITE AND FORUM

Another 1300 contributions to the forum have been archived, making current contributions easier to find. The total for topic “radical downgrade” is now over 3000.

500+ people have answered the poll question [www.amipp.org.uk]

Most of the contributions now are focussed, e.g. on what is being said to MPs, although some still address the overall picture, like:
“I opted out of the C Plan in 2006, thinking that as a member of the Enhanced M Plan I retained a contractual right to retire early. IBM is using the closure of defined benefit plans as a means to slip in changes to early retirement policy. To my ex colleagues who left IBM either for pastures new or retirement, I can only say that you would not recognise the company you help make great. After 32 years loyal service, I feel betrayed.”

The South Today TV item was welcomed, with reservations that since it was a program ostensibly about IBM it should have done more to distinguish the IBM situation from national trends.

TIMETABLE

The remaining time line being adopted by IBM is as follows;

(The consultation has started. There will be minor delay to the schedule shown because of the way it was started.)
Sat 3rd October - End of 60 day consultation
Mon 5th October - IBM finalise proposals

The time line after 5th October will be dependent on the decisions taken by IBM following the consultation period. However, it has been suggested that the Company consideration of the output from the PCC will last one week, after which the Company will announce its decisions. It has also been indicated in the Q&A\'s on the Wiki that the Company will open a month long window during October - November for employees to submit requests to take early retirement.


THE AUTHORITIES

Nothing further is to be expected from The Pensions Advisory Service until they are approached by individuals with complaints that the Pensions Ombudsman might consider.

There has been no response from the Regulator to complaints about the setup of the consultation process. (Although obviously the Regulator did not act on requests to stop the election process.)

There has been nothing further from the Pensions Trust since the 9 July statement on its website. The request for information by the elected PCC members, via IBM, is stalled by IBM asking for more on the reason for the request. The PCC has not asked the Trust for anything directly.

A motion has been proposed in the Scottish Parliament.
[www.scottish.parliament.uk] LEGAL ASPECTS

A few contributors write in terms of executives in the dock but the majority see the legal reasoning as an influence on IBM’s proposals, rather than leading to court action.

The themes remain:

- Bad faith in proposing these changes so soon after the 2006 commitments.
- Bad faith in the disparity of treatment between those who chose DB and those who chose DC.
- Automatic ranking, with the lowest ranked “managed out”, is seen as constructive dismissal.
- History is considered to have established implied conditions in employment contracts, relating to retirement.

LEGAL AND ACTUARIAL ADVICE FOR THE PCC

The “Big Blue Fighting Fund” mechanism is now in place. AMIPP will publicise how to donate, once the organisers have said they want that.


PCC STATEMENT AND MINUTES.

The PCC statement that IBM kept out of the minutes has been extensively quoted by the Portsmouth Echo. The article appears on their website with comments from the public. [www.dailyecho.co.uk]

Forum contributors are concerned about the slimness of reporting in the PCC minutes. As the blog puts it “Week 3 of the great debate saw our director of human resources (personnel chappie in our terms) present exactly what the Company plan for the closure of the DB schemes was. This was all kept out of the minutes and was for our reps eyes only.” The basis on which approvals will be given for early retirements is being similarly kept from employees.

This has not been well received: “So how do we find out what exactly is going on then ? I find it difficult to deal with the fact that critical decisions are going to be made about the rest of my life on criteria which are \"too confidential\" for me to know about.” “I didn\'t vote for my PCC rep to make decisions on my behalf I voted for them to represent my views to the company. Unless there is sensitive information about individuals what reason is there for keeping them confidential. Criteria for separation are usually transparent should be so people can see they are fair and appeal if necessary. What is in this information that cant be shared.?” “How can I ask questions about a policy I haven\'t seen?”

Meetings are planned between PCC members and some employees. More reasoning on why the PCC agreed to the planned secrecy may emerge.

UNION ACTIVITY

Dates for further public meetings have not been announced. A third Newsflash speciific to IBM has been produced. [unite.newsweaver.co.uk]

ACTIONS

Those writing to MPs are making efforts to co-ordinate their activities.

[spreadsheets.google.com] (Updates can be sent by the forum Private Message mechanism, to Breezy.)

There is co-ordination of people visiting MPs. (Search the forum by MP name)


SUMMARY OF SUMMARY

The knowledge battle, with the employees wanting openness from the consultation and IBM wanting to limit and control, surges to and fro. The PCC occupies the uncertain middle ground.

Involvement of the Pensions Trust is stalled.

More organisation has appeared amongst those taking individual action with MPs.

The fighting fund is accumulating funds.


NOTE

Please say if you regard this summary as a travesty, or it omits a point you consider major. I can edit it.

See also:
C Plan blog [aarmonkaardvark.blogspot.com]
Yahoo Group [finance.groups.yahoo.com]
Union starter [www.amipp.org.uk]'



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09 October 2009 10:04AM by admin1.