Pensions update April 2012 Chris Wood UNISON Pensions Champion

Negotiations: NHS scheme NHS Pensions: Government final offer in “Reforming the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales”, published by DH, available on UNISON and DH websites. UNISON ballot of members in or eligible to join NHS scheme from 11 to 27 April on acceptance/rejection. If you are not in the LG pension scheme you are probably eligible to vote in the NHS scheme ballot.

Negotiations: LG scheme Local Govt Pensions: broad principles agreed, negotiations continue. UNISON will ballot members in LG scheme when negotiations are concluded. We will let you know when this happens.

UNISON NHS pension ballot UNISON members are flagged as in the health or local govt group in the UNISON system, these flags will be used as a basis for sending out NHS pension ballot papers. For a small number of members these flags may not tally with which pension scheme you are in. In particular new CQC inspectors will be in or eligible to join the NHS scheme but are probably flagged local govt.

What if I’m in NHS scheme but don’t get a ballot paper? Members in or eligible to join the NHS scheme who have not received a paper by 17 April are advised to request one by phoning the ballot helpline on Please be ready to quote your membership number. The helpline will be open between 11 April and on 25 April. Members in or eligible to join the NHS scheme who have not received a paper by 17 April are advised to request one by phoning the ballot helpline on Please be ready to quote your membership number. The helpline will be open between 11 April and on 25 April. If you are in the LG pension scheme but get ballot papers for the NHS scheme ballot, please destroy them. You may need to contact UNISON when the LG scheme ballot is organised, in due course.

What if I am not in a pension scheme? CQC staff not currently in a pension scheme are eligible to join the NHS pension scheme. UNISON members eligible to join the NHS pension scheme can vote in the members’ ballot, even if you are not currently in the NHS scheme. You may need to request a ballot paper.

NHS Pensions: key changes Care Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme from April 2015; Normal pension age linked to state pension age; Paid pensions linked to Consumer Price Index (CPI); Increased contributions from April 2012 (if salary >£26,557 fte). Existing benefits linked to final salary; Protection for staff within 10 years of existing pension age and tapered protection for staff 10 to 13.5 years.

Improved benefits in CARE pension Accrual rate of benefits increased to 1/54 of salary per year (improved from 1/60). Annual uprating of benefits = CPI + 1.5% until benefits paid or deferred. This replaces link to wages. Paid or deferred benefits will still be uprated by CPI only. “Fair Deal” will still apply for TUPE transfers e.g. privatisation, so pension scheme members can stay in scheme.

Legal challenge to CPI The trade unions lost the Appeal Court case against the change to CPI from RPI for the indexation of pensions. Grounds for a possible further appeal to the Supreme Court are being reviewed (according to the Civil Service Pensioners Alliance).

Please use your vote The proposals don’t meet all our aspirations, but UNISON believes they are the best that can be achieved by negotiation and without taking further – and sustained – industrial action. As with the CQC pay ballot, your local UNISON reps strongly emphasise the importance of all members participating in the ballot. Should the offer be rejected, we would expect all members to actively support future industrial action.

More information Unison’s updates on NHS and LG pensions via the Pensions Knowledge Centre webpage Information on the existing schemes on pension agency websites