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23 September 2011
Last updated at 01:02 ET
The government can save £900m a year from public sector pensions without raising workers' contributions for two years, a lobbying group has claimed.
The Local Government Employers has written to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles with its plan, seen by the BBC.
It says employees could either pay more in - starting in two years' time - to keep their benefits or pay what they do now and get less when they retire.
But Unison, the largest public sector union, said it did not back the plans.
Unions have already said they will go ahead with ballots for mass strike action in the Autumn over pensions, after talks with ministers failed to reach a breakthrough.
'Day of action' But that was on the basis that millions of workers will have to pay more from next April while they are still on a pay freeze.
The latest proposal, which could effect two million workers, claims to deliver the required savings without employees opting out of the pension scheme.
It is the first time since discussions began earlier in the year that proposals at this advanced stage have been made public.
The unions say plans to increase their contributions are unfair and financially unnecessary, but ministers insist they must rise to make schemes sustainable.
Several unions are holding votes on a "day of action" on 30 November.
The Department for Communities and Local Government now has to decide whether to adopt the latest proposal or launch its own proposals for pension changes at the end of the month.
The Local Government Employers says it works with local authorities, regional employers and other bodies to create solutions on pay, pensions and the employment contract.
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The Local Government Employers has written to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles with its plan, seen by the BBC.
It says employees could either pay more in - starting in two years' time - to keep their benefits or pay what they do now and get less when they retire.
But Unison, the largest public sector union, said it did not back the plans.
Unions have already said they will go ahead with ballots for mass strike action in the Autumn over pensions, after talks with ministers failed to reach a breakthrough.
'Day of action' But that was on the basis that millions of workers will have to pay more from next April while they are still on a pay freeze.
The latest proposal, which could effect two million workers, claims to deliver the required savings without employees opting out of the pension scheme.
It is the first time since discussions began earlier in the year that proposals at this advanced stage have been made public.
The unions say plans to increase their contributions are unfair and financially unnecessary, but ministers insist they must rise to make schemes sustainable.
Several unions are holding votes on a "day of action" on 30 November.
The Department for Communities and Local Government now has to decide whether to adopt the latest proposal or launch its own proposals for pension changes at the end of the month.
The Local Government Employers says it works with local authorities, regional employers and other bodies to create solutions on pay, pensions and the employment contract.
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