TUC Member Trustee News Summer 2011

Welcome to the summer edition of TUC member trustee news.

Life continues to be difficult for many trustees, with no let up in the pace of scheme closures, and, for many boards, difficult discussions on pensions increases; the resignations of Airways MNTs have been well-covered in the professional press.

Meanwhile, in the public sector, talks are ongoing on the future of the schemes following Lord Hutton's report. A summary of Hutton's recommendations is given on page 7 of this issue. In his interim report, Lord Hutton expressed the hope that 'reformed public service pensions can be seen as once again providing a benchmark for the private sector to aim towards'. In the public debate over the government's proposed reforms, unions have highlighted the decline of decent pension provision in the private sector and have warned against a race to the bottom in pensions provision.

And finally, a reminder that the Trustee network conference is on Tuesday 15 November at Congress House in London. Confirmed speakers include Pensions Minister Steve Webb and Dr Paul Woolley, founder of the Centre for the Study of Capital Markets Dysfunctionality at the LSE, and there will as always be a good range of workshop topics. You can register an interest for the conference by contacting Jennifer Mann on jmann@tuc.org.uk

In this issue you'll find the following features and articles:

• Does your pension fund support fair pay?
• Responsible investment and fiduciary duty
• Preparing for the 2012 reforms
• DC investment strategy
• The Regulator's new Corporate Plan
• European Directive Review
• Hutton's proposals for public sector schemes
• Ombudsman in action
• Death benefit payments - Ombudsman acts

Download the newsletter here (PDF)