Workers at ACC Liverpool - the venue which hosted both the Eurovision Song Contest and Labour Party Conference - have secured their pension rights after bosses dropped plans to exit the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Security, events, cleaning and catering staff, many of whom were TUPE-transferred from Liverpool City Council, faced losing access to the LGPS, one of the most secure pension schemes available to public sector workers.
ACC Liverpool proposed buying staff out of the scheme with a monetary offer. The move was seen as a cost-saving measure, potentially saving the company millions of pounds.
GMB Union insisted that all affected staff be consulted, not just union members. Despite pressure from management, the proposal was unanimously rejected.
Had the changes gone ahead, workers would have been moved to a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme, offering far less favourable terms and leaving staff thousands of pounds worse off in retirement.
Last Friday, ACC Liverpool confirmed it has stopped pursuing the proposal.
Robbie Marnell, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“Workers were clear: they wouldn’t tolerate cuts to their pensions.
“We’re glad the bosses have listened.
“GMB will always fight for a better future for ordinary working people.”
