Environmentally conscious UNISON activists have been running a campaign calling on the Hampshire Local Government Pension Scheme to divest from fossil fuels – and now they need your support to make a long lasting difference!
The Hampshire Local Government Pension Scheme is currently among the top quartile of fossil fuel investors, with an estimated £136,056,249 of member’s money funding environmentally destructive industries – despite the county council having declared a Climate Emergency back in 2019!
Our Hampshire County and Eastleigh branches have led several successful demonstrations outside the council’s HQ with the support of local organisations such as Extinction Rebellion Winchester, Dirty Money, and Winchester Action on Climate Change, and their hard work is starting to pay off!
Having initially refused to reconsider their strategy, the Hampshire Pension Scheme has now agreed to a public consultation on the issue, and we are asking all UNISON members to have their say – even those of you who are not members of the scheme can participate.
Have your say on the Hampshire Local Government Pension Scheme Public Consultation
In section 4, we’re asking you to answer NO to the question “From the information provided, do you understand the Fund’s rationale to not disinvest in fossil fuel companies at this time?”
In Section 5, we’re suggesting you make the following key point:
‘The Hampshire Pension Fund currently invests £136m in fossil fuels, this needs to be reduced to zero by 2030 at the latest’
Campaigners have also received support from the Labour MP for Southampton Test Alan Whitehead, who said that:
“I am in full support of this campaign by UNISON and it’s good to see that it’s sparked action from the Hampshire Pension Fund Panel.
I would encourage all members to respond as divesting from fossil fuels through pension funds is an important tool in the fight to tackle the climate crisis.”
In addition to our environmental concerns, UNISON has also been calling on the scheme to address its democratic deficit, and we are delighted to say we have made progress on that count too; pension scheme members who did not live in Hampshire were previously barred from making representations to the pension panel – no matter whether or not they still paid in, or how close they still resided – but following our objections the scheme has agreed to change this rule, so that all members are entitled to have their say.
Please make sure you don’t miss the chance to make your own voice heard – the consultation closes on the 31st May.
If you have any questions about our campaign, or would like to help further, then please email Patrick Young at P.Young@unison.co.uk