The following members have volunteered to become local union reps in Tonbridge and help make AXA a better place to work, assisting their colleagues with workplace issues:

Hannah Prebble

Helen Buss

Sam Thomas

Thanks to all three for volunteering.

Click here to read the latest Unite in AXA newsletter on upcoming 2014 pay negotiations.

Please contact your local union rep for details of your local pay meeting.

The ballot of Unite members in the Defined Benefit pension scheme within the bargaining unit has concluded and the result is  as follows:

Ballots returned – 67.37%

In favour – 35.16%

Against – 64.84%

The company has been advised of the result.

Whilst this is a clear no vote against the company offer, the Unite in AXA National Company Committee  is of the view that although the company action is obviously hugely unpopular, that given the number of ballot papers not returned (over 30%) and the size of the no vote, it does not give a large enough mandate to enable us to consider any further action on this matter.

Click here to read the latest Unite in AXA newsletter on the recent offer of pension compensation and protection of key benefits from AXA.

Please leave your feedback below or talk to your local union rep.

AXA’s European Works Council is meeting in Warsaw with employee representatives attending from Belgium,  France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Group CEO Henri de Castries addressed the employee representatives, telling them how the group had delivered solid results in 2012, that there was encouraging momentum with the company was on track with AXA Ambition and that he was now planning towards 2030.

Delegates raised a number of issues with him including the global economic situation, youth employment, cost reduction, offshore operations, social dialogue, global IT and bank operations and corporate social responsibility.

The UK delegation asked the CEO questions on cost management, gender equality, his participation in the Bilderberg Group and pensions.

Click here to read the latest Unite in AXA newsletter on the results of the Defined Benefit pension scheme survey.

Please leave your feedback below or talk to your local union rep.

A number of members have asked us to provide template for an email that they could send directly to AXA UK Group CEO Paul Evans to make him aware of their objection to the plans to the proposed closure of the Defined Benefit pension scheme.

This is a very good idea ensuring that the man ultimately making the decision understands how staff feel about the plan and the individual impact on his long serving employees.

A suggested template wording for you to copy can be found here. Please feel free to personalise it as you feel appropriate.

You may also wish to email your operating company CEO as well using this template.

Given the size of the AXA Group as a global insurance company, many people have questioned the need for the company to close the pension scheme. With this in mind  we have also produced a template wording for AXA Group CEO Henri de Castries which impacted staff may wish to use to register their opinion with the global group leader. That template can be found here.

Whilst we would encourage any impacted employee to write to both Paul and Henri, we would remind people that, whilst appreciating that many of you are very angry and adversely impacted, to remain polite in what you write.

Click here to read the latest Unite in AXA newsletter on the feedback from Defined Benefit pension scheme members.

Please leave your feedback below or talk to your local union rep.

Click here to read the latest Unite in AXA newsletter on today’s announcement of redundancies and redeployments  in AXA Head Office and Corporate Centre.

Please leave your feedback below or talk to your local union rep.