NWA UNISON: YOUR UNION
UNISON MEMBERS TO VOTE ON PENSIONS
UNISON is set to ballot its 450,000 members in health over the final proposals in the new NHS pension scheme for England and Wales out today.
After lengthy negotiations between the union, Government and NHS Employers, the final proposals will be put first to key activists at the union’s health service group executive meeting on March 21, before going to a ballot of health members.
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“The final proposals on the new NHS pension scheme released today have changed significantly from where the negotiations first started. It is critical that our members have the final say on these proposals and we will meet with our key health activists before moving to a ballot.
“Key to the changes that UNISON has secured is success in keeping the fairdeal. This is particularly significant in the light of NHS reforms becauseit allows outsourced staff to remain in the pension scheme.
“The new proposals maintain a defined benefit scheme with a move towards career average. In this harsh economic climate it was crucial to ensure that no health worker earning less than £26,000 a year should be hit with an increase in their pension payments this year.
“In addition, scheme members within 10 years of retirement will receive protection.
“We know that pensions can be very complex and we will be doing all we can to ensure that the members get the advice they need to make an informed decision in the ballot.”
BREAKS
As a result of staff opposition, Peterborough and Stamford NHS Trust has shelved plans to 'harmonise' breaks. ('Harmonise' - a nice sounding word for making people work longer and get paid nothing extra for doing so.) Actually, staff have every right to protest that they are already working harder than ever before, with fewer staff, and that it is already almost impossible for some staff to take the breaks they are legally entitled to.
Even though this plan has been shelved, the Trust has said that it will continue to look for 'pay reduction schemes'. This means that the Trust - which is in a financial crisis due to a combination of PFI costs, government policy and inadequate local management - is trying to make staff pay for financial problems they didn't create.
UNISON WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE SUCH PLANS.
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