Also: GMB votes by 96% to reject Coalition pension cuts (Union News)

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GMB NHS MEMBERS OVERWHELMING 96.5% VOTE TO REJECT PROPOSALS ON CHANGES TO NHS PENSIONS SCHEME

Even Secretary of State recognised that the proposed increases in contributions and the proposed increase in retirement age were the reasons why the GMB members would reject the proposals says GMB

GMB members employed in the NHS have voted by an overwhelming 96. 5% to reject the proposals on the table on changes to the NHS pension scheme.

GMB has 30, 000 members in the NHS working as paramedics and other ambulance staff, as hospital and community and district nurses, as ancillary staff in cleaning, catering and maintenance and as office support staff.

GMB has been closely involved in the NHS, Civil Service and LGPS pension negotiations. The GMB Central Executive Council decided in February to put final proposals to members in each scheme for them to decide to accept or reject the proposals. This is the outcome the NHS ballot. Earlier this month GMB members voted to accept the Civil Service proposals by a 3-to-1 majority. The LGPS negotiations have not concluded but GMB negotiators have revealed that these negotiations are making good progress.

Rehana Azam, GMB National Officer for the NHS said “GMB has always said that the Government was premature to table an offer on pensions in the NHS with many issues outstanding and not concluded including the costs of pensions to staff.

GMB officers and shop stewards have spent the past few months in a detailed consultation with our members and have extensively outlined the pension offer so that members can decide how best to respond.

The ballot is a clear mandate voiced by the members to reject the proposals. The GMB’s consultative bodies for NHS, Ambulance and Nursing will meet later this week to decide the next steps. In addition the GMB will continue to meet with other NHS unions and will continue to press Government to make progress on the issues outstanding.

Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley has acknowledged that GMB has “played a constructive role in negotiations’. This was in a letter to the GMB dated 9th May 2012, He recognised that the proposed increases in contributions and the proposed increase in retirement age were the reasons why the GMB was recommending a rejection of the offer. He went on to say ’I have been very clear that I wish to protect the lower paid’. GMB will seek clarity on this as the current proposals do not offer any guarantees that this will be the case.”

Contact: Rehana Azam National Officer Tel: 020 8971 4268 Mob: 07841 181656 or GMB Press Office, Rose Conroy on 07974 251 823 or Steve Pryle on 07921 289880.