UNISON Members give green light to pensions negotiations
UNISON activists have voted yesterday, 10 January, to give the union's negotiators the green light to continue discussions with government ministers on changes to public sector pensions.
More than 250 key elected national, regional, rank and file activists met at UNISON's headquarters to discuss the details of the proposals for the Local Government and Health pension schemes. They agreed to the frameworks negotiators have developed with Government ministers since 30 November.
Joanne Kaye, UNISON South West Regional Secretary, said:
"UNISON is a democratic union, and in today's consultation, our elected activists from every service group in the local government pensions scheme endorsed the framework proposals we have negotiated, paving the way for more in depth talks.
"Our health members gave their support to talks on the NHS scheme entering a final phase, due to end in late January. When we have a final offer, we will take it back to members in a full ballot.
"Our action on 30 November got ministers back to the table, since then we have made some real progress. No contribution rises in local government until 2014 will be a real boost for many families that are hard hit by the pay freeze, and struggling to cope. The overwhelming majority of NHS scheme members won't face contribution rate rises in 2012.
"We will continue to campaign to secure the best possible deal, which our members will then be consulted on. Should negotiations fail, our industrial action ballot, which remains live, gives us the option to take more strike action."
Negotiations on the local government scheme are due to run until April 2012.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
The national, regional, and rank and file activists represented members from six service groups: Local Government, Community, Police and Justice, Water, Environment and Transport (WET), Higher Education and Health.
For further information contact:
Joanne Kaye, Regional Secretary, UNISON South West c/o 01823 285318
Issued: Wednesday, 11 January 2012