The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Divest our LGPS

Ealing Unison passed a motion at the June 2025 Branch committee meeting, calling for the Ealing pension fund to divest from companies complicit in Israel’s war crimes, including companies supplying weapons, components and military technology to Israel.

Divest Our Pension Scheme – Ealing Unison Branch June 2025 Committee

The Branch Committee will be writing to all members of the local council’s pension committee demanding they adhere to their moral and legal obligations by immediately divesting the pension fund from such companies.

The motion also affirms that Ealing Unison will affiliate to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and work with them to implement this motion

What can you do?

• Write to your elected local councillors to ask they take immediate action to ensure LGPS funds administered by their council are not enabling Israel’s war crimes- Email my councillor
• Visit the PSC website and use their template letter to write to the chair of your pension fund committee to ask them to address their fund’s investments in companies complicit in human rights abuses. PCS Website

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

If you’re employed by Ealing Council, an Ealing maintained school or an employer with admitted body status, you are entitled to join the local government pension scheme.

For each £1 you pay in, your employer pays roughly £2 into your pension pot. Other benefits of the scheme include:

• A secure pension – worked out every scheme year and added to your pension account. Your pension account is revalued each year to allow for inflation and keep up with the cost of living
• Tax free cash – You have the option when you draw your pension to exchange part of it for a tax free cash lump sum
• Peace of mind – Immediate life cover and a pension for your spouse, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner in the event of your death in service. If you ever become seriously ill and have been in the pension scheme for at least two years, you could receive immediate ill health benefits.
• Freedom to choose when to take your pension – Once you’ve been in the scheme for 2 years, you could choose to retire and draw your pension at any time between aged 55-75 (these may be reduced if paid earlier than your normal pension age, or increased if paid after)
• Flexibility to pay more or less contributions – You have the option in the LGPS to pay half your normal contributions in return for half your normal pension. This is known as the 50/50 section of the scheme and is designed to help members stay in the scheme when times are financially tough. You can also boost your pension by paying additional contributions, which you would receive tax relief on.