Unite to ballot members on NHS pensions’ offer

9 February 2012

Unite to hold a consultative ballot on the NHS pensions' proposal.

Unite, the largest union in the country, is set to hold a consultative ballot of its health service members on the NHS pensions’ reform proposals – with a recommendation that they are rejected – unless significant progress is made.

Unite’s NHS executive, which represents 100,000 health service members, today (Thursday, 9 February) reiterated its total rejection of the government’s proposals and agreed to hold the ballot supervised by the Electoral Reform Society.

The government has a self-imposed deadline of 20 February for the pension negotiations to end. If there is no significant movement by ministers then, the Unite ballot will proceed.

The prospect of strike action over the NHS pensions’ issue is a real possibility.

Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: ‘There have been no substantive changes from what was on the table before Christmas - our hard working members will still be expected to pay more, work longer and get less when they retire.’

‘Our members are deeply unhappy at the government’s stance and we will be holding a consultative ballot to reaffirm our members’ position – the prospect of further strike action will be very real, unless ministers move on their hardline position.’

‘Unite calls, yet again, for ministers to enter into real, genuine and meaningful negotiations on the future of NHS pensions before the deadline of 20 February for talks to end.’

‘The government’s attacks on public sector pensions are politically driven, as part of the strategy to privatise the NHS, cut public services, break-up the national pay agreements, and disrupt legitimate trade union activities and organisation.’

‘Unite believes it is important to continue a strong campaign to maintain a fair and equitable system of public sector pensions.’

In December, Unite unanimously rejected the ‘Heads of Agreement’ document as a basis for a satisfactory outcome, but the union’s negotiators have remained in talks with the Department of Health and will continue to do so. This position has been reinforced at subsequent meetings.

Unite’s continuing concerns centre on three areas:

A high proportion of NHS staff will see their pension contributions jump from the current 6.5 per cent to 9.3 per cent by 2014/15. Contributions will average 9.8 per cent by 2015.

The linking of the NHS retirement age to the state pension age. The state retirement age is set to rise to 66 in 2020 and 67 by 2026, with the prospect of working even longer in future decades. Unite is concerned that, for example, paramedics and nurses could be doing heavy lifting into their late 60s.

The career average (CARE) scheme will deliver lower benefits for many members compared to the final salary pension scheme.

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