Gov pensions offer accepted

The announcement was made after a membership consultation in which 71.8% of the respondents accepted the offer and 28.2% rejected it, with a turnout of 20%.

Jon Skewes, director of employment relations, said: ‘It is very clear that RCM members have made a pragmatic decision, albeit it with a heavy heart, to accept the offer following the government’s threats to impose a worse scheme which could have resulted in losing the protection for those closest to their retirement age.

‘We are still disappointed that the government would not compromise on age. The retirement age in the new scheme is equal to state pension age, which means that midwives and other NHS employees could be working till they are nearly 70 and later if the state pension age goes up.

‘We are concerned that midwives and other NHS employees will not be able to meet the demands of their profession and this could impact on the service.’

He added that the RCM will seek to work in partnership with the government and NHS Employers on this ‘important issue’ and on the full implementation of the new scheme.