Final pensions offer on the table

It will announce its position on the new offer in the New Year, as will most other unions involved in negotiations.

The agreement was hammered out yesterday (19 December), but is still to be ratified by union executives.

It is thought the new offer will give greater protection to low-paid workers and those less than ten years from retirement.

It also increases the size of pension pots workers can build up. But ministers have not budged on some big issues.

Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations and development, said: ‘Following exhaustive and difficult negotiations with the government, the RCM and other health unions have today secured a way forward on pensions.

‘We still have a lot of detail to work out and we are bitterly disappointed that there has been no movement from the government on the link to state pension age.

‘The RCM remains concerned that midwives will not be able to meet the physical and mental demands of their profession when they are nearly seventy years old.

‘We have secured a review to address the impact of working longer in the NHS with particular reference to frontline staff in physically demanding roles.

‘We have also negotiated significant improvements to accrual rates; movement from the government on fair deal and protection for those nearing retirement including the majority of special classes.’

He added that the RCM will meet in the New Year to consider its position and will ‘continue to negotiate and campaign vociferously’ to get a fair pensions deal for members.

Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, called the offer a ‘significant step forward’.

Today is the last day parliament sits before the Christmas break and Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, is later expected to make a speech on the pension talks progress.