Stagecoach South Western Trains-Introduction of Pension Auto Enrolment -1st May 2013

My Ref: MRP 1/8/24​ 30th April 2013

​ Circular Num: NP/109 /13
To: The Secretary All Branches & Regional Councils

Dear Colleagues,

STAGECOACH SOUTH WESTERN TRAINS – INTRODUCTION OF PENSION AUTO ENROLMENT – 1st MAY 2013

In line with Pensions Act 2008 Stagecoach South Western Trains have been given a staging date of 1st May 2013 when they are required to Auto Enrol eligible job holders into a qualifying pension scheme.

Management’s proposal is to enrol eligible employees working for South West Trains (SWT) into the SWT section of the Railways Pension Scheme (RPS) and those eligible employees working for Island Line (IL) into the IL section of the RPS.

The above is with the exception of those new entrants, aged over 65, and casual staff who will be Auto Enrolled into the RPS Industry Wide Defined Contribution Scheme (IWDC).

Those employees who are already receiving RPS benefits but still continue to be employed by either of the two employers mentioned above, regardless whether or not they have reached State Pension Age, will be enrolled into the IWDC arrangement.

Following consultation with RMT representatives the matter has again been subject to recent consideration by the General Grades Committee and their decision is as follows:

“That we note the report from our Regional Organiser and the correspondence from South West Trains, stating that their staging date for the implementation of Auto Enrolment is 1st May 2013.

We further note that all eligible members with Island Line & South West Trains will be Auto Enrolled into their relevant section of the Railways Pension Scheme (RPS).

Therefore and after further consultation with our local representatives, we instruct the General Secretary to inform the company of our acceptance of these latest proposals.

Further we instruct the General Secretary to ask SWT to specify where they employ the casual workers they refer to in their correspondence.

Branches and Wessex Regional Councils to be advised.”

In accordance with the above, I am now acting on the instructions of the GGC decision and I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.

Best wishes.

Bob Crow
General Secretary