GMB On NHS Pensions Offer
Tuesday 10th January 2012
GMB NHS BODIES ADVISE GMB CENTRAL
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO BALLOT GMB MEMBERS IN NHS WITH FINAL OFFER ON
NHS PENSIONS
The committees at meetings in
London have asked the national negotiators to continue with talks
to enable the CEC to put final position to the membership by way of
ballot
The GMB advisory bodies covering members
employed in NHS Ambulance Services and in Nursing and the NHS
Committee covering other staff such as ancillary and support
workers met this week to discuss the government's pensions
proposals for NHS staff made in December 2011.
The advisory bodies are advising the GMB
Central Executive Council (CEC) which meets on 14 February 2012 as
follows:
“The GMB NHS advisory bodies are
extremely disappointed that despite lengthy negotiations over 9
months on the future of the NHS Pension Scheme that significant
movements have not been made. Particularly disappointing was the
fact that the impact of working longer could have been mitigated
within the cost envelope the Government imposed in these
negotiations, but senior Government officials deemed this
unworkable.
The GMB advisory bodies are resolved to
achieve the best pension reforms for GMB members in the NHS. It is
on this basis the GMB advisory bodies are advising the Central
Executive Council to put the Government's offer to GMB members in
the NHS once the final offer has been negotiated.”
Rehana Azam GMB NHS National Officer said
"GMB will remain in the talks until the offer is finalised
but continue to challenge the Government to move on the principles
of the offer on working longer, paying more and getting less. GMB
members in the NHS will always reserve their right to take
industrial action to protect their dignity in work and in
retirement. The GMB NHS advisory bodies have advised the CEC to put
the Government's offer to all of its NHS membership so that members
can decide the next course of action. "
Mick Coppin, chair of the NHS Committee
covering ancillary and support staff, said: "Our members
mandated us to challenge the Government's continuous attack on NHS
staff terms & conditions. Our members told us that working
longer and paying more to get less pensions was the final straw.
They overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action to bring the
government back to the negotiating table. Today we have unanimously
agreed to continue to challenge government on this issue through
further continued negotiations and have advised the CEC to ballot
our members with the final offer, and we will be driven by their
decisions".
Steve Rice, the chair of the GMB Ambulance
Committee said: "The GMB National Ambulance Committee
agreed that although they felt the proposals didn't go far enough
the committee recognised that being a member led union, it would be
for the membership to decide. And therefore the committee have
asked the national negotiators to continue with talks to enable the
CEC to put final position to the membership by way of
ballot."
Martin Jackson CDNA Committee member said
"We are delighted that the advisory bodies today have
advised the CEC to ballot our members regarding NHS pensions
proposal. However it is disappointing that our members will still
be expected to work longer, pay more, and receive
less".
End
Contact: Rehana Azam, GMB
National Officer on 07841 181656 or GMB Press Office Steve Pryle
07921 289 880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 251 823