Unison accepts government’s pension deal
By Nick Mann | 11 January 2012
Unison representatives yesterday agreed the main points
of the government’s offer on public sector pensions, giving the union the
go-ahead to continue negotiations.
Dave Prentis, Unison’s general secretary, said the union
had made ‘real progress’ since the widespread industrial action over the pension reforms on
November 30. But he warned that if negotiations failed, it still had the option
of taking further industrial action.
Six service groups were represented in the Unison
meeting: local government; community; police and justice; water environment and
transport; higher education; and health.
Prentis said the endorsement would pave the way for more
in-depth talks with government over the proposals for the local government
scheme, which are due to run until April. It also means the NHS scheme negotiations
would enter the ‘final phase’, he added. This ends in late January, after which
Unison will take any final offer back to its members in a full ballot.
Prentis added: ‘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,’ he said.
‘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.’
The Unison endorsement comes after Unite members yesterday rejected the government’s local government reform proposals. Unite also
rejected the NHS pensions offer last week.
