The Government are proposing several changes to the NHS Pension scheme that, if they are implemented, will mean that scheme members will have to pay more, work for longer and receive less in the future. As part of the last Pension scheme changes in 2008, it was agreed that any future changes to the scheme were to be negotiated and agreed in partnership. The current Government are trying to circumvent this agreement and impose changes. This unilateral change to your pension must not be allowed to happen.

Further background on the proposed changes is available at:
http://www.unitetheunion.org/resources/pensions/protecting_pensions_for_our_pu.aspx 

These presentations may help to outline the proposed changes further:
Your Pension 2011.ppt
PensionsNov11.ppt

We would advise our members to look very closely at the proposed changes and ask themselves if they are happy for them to be imposed. These changes will affect you now through large rises in contributions and in the future through increasing the number of years you will have to work, reducing the value of the benefits you receive upon retirement (particularly the lump sum) and the value of your pension when you are drawing it.

Unite have produced a Pensions pamphlet that we would urge all our members read.
Pension pamphlet.pdf


November 24th 2011