Items in the news.

• Flexible retirement policy
• Winter Fuel Allowance
• Play Octopus - the UNISON Welfare Monthly Prize Draw
• Branch officers' and stewards' meeting dates for 2012

______________________________________

Flexible retirement policy

Following the recent changes to the regulations governing the retirement of employees, UNISON has asked BCBC to clarify the position of employees and and how they will be dealt with in future in relation to retirement. Clarification was also asked for in relation to those people who fall within the transitional arrangements due to them reaching 65 prior to the April 2011 cut off and who have already been issued with notice of a retirement date.

BCBC responded thus:

"We have amended our documentation to reflect the changed regulations.

A standard letter is sent to all employees approaching their 65 th birthday. This outlines to them that:

• the regulations have changed and that there is no fixed retirement age
• confirmation that they may carry on working until such time that they wish to retire
• confirmation that together they/we may explore flexible retirement
• confirmation that if they wish to continue to work they need not take any further action, but that if they retire they need to give notice and liaise with their line manager accordingly.

In terms of those employees falling within the transitional arrangements, each case is dealt with on its merits as the service implications have to be taken into account."

---

** Please note these are changes to the conditions published in the Flexible Retirement Policy dated June 2010. **

If you have any further questions on this issue, please contact the Branch office.

______________________________________

Winter Fuel Allowance

‘There for you’ has set up a limited fund to help UNISON members on low income by way of a one-off payment of up to £50. Download the flyer/poster (pdf file).

The application form is also available to download.

Be aware that the following criteria apply.

Applicants should not:

• have savings in excess of £800
• have received a grant from UNISON Welfare in the last six months (anyone in the applicant's household)
• have a household net income (excluding Child Benefit and Disability Living Allowance) of more than £18,000 pa.

Applications will accepted until 29 February 2012.

______________________________________

 Play Octopus - the UNISON Welfare Monthly Prize Draw

With the UNISON Welfare monthly prize draw, you could win great cash prizes every month - and support UNISON 'There for You' (formally UNISON Welfare) in the process!

There are over 50 cash prizes every month - including a first prize of £1,000!

Full details about the Octopus scheme, and an application form to join are available to download (pdf file 829kb). Good luck - and let us know if you win!.
______________________________________

updated
29.01.12

Branch officers' meeting dates for 2012 Bridgend Branch of UNISON are as follows:

All meetings are on Mondays:

20th February
19th March
23rd April
21st May
11th June
23rd July
20th August
24th September
22nd October
12th November
17th December

All meetings will run 5.30pm - 7.30pm, in Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, Angel Street.
______________________________________