Prime Minister’s NHS pensions pledge welcomed by
Unite
27 April 2010
Unite has welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge that NHS pensions
are ‘safe’ with a Labour Government.
Karen Reay, Unite’s National Officer for Health said: ‘We also
support Gordon Brown’s undertaking that a pay freeze is not the
best way to achieve a better NHS in the long-run.’
‘The Labour Party is the only major political party to pledge
that the pensions of NHS staff are safe. The other parties have
been making ominous noises about what they wish to do with public
sector pensions – which is to be deplored.’
‘Secure and well-funded pensions are the mark of a
civilised society and the fact some right-wing politicians and
commentators want to take the axe to NHS pensions, which are, in
essence deferred pay for years of loyal and dedicated service, is
simply wrong.’
‘We are also pleased that the Prime Minister has recognised that
a dogmatic adherence to a pay freeze in the NHS is not the best way
to attract and retain the staff needed to ensure that the health
service remains one of the institutions that makes Britain the envy
of the world for many
people.’
Gordon Brown told nurses attending the Royal College of Nursing
conference: ‘You work hard for your pensions and you deserve a good
one. And the reforms already agreed make the pensions sustainable
in the long-term and we will stick to those. Your pensions are safe
with us.’
‘And while on pay, with the next few years tighter, we will be
looking for restraint across public sector pay, but we don't
believe a pay freeze is the way to a better NHS.’
-ends-
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
The Unite public sector pensions leaflet can be seen on http://www.unite4labour.org/publicsectorpensionsleaflet
For further information, please ring: Karen Reay, National
Officer, Health 07798 531 004 or Shaun Noble, Communications
Officer (Health Sector) 020 7420 8951 or 07768 693
940
Unite Health Sector web page: www.unitetheunion.org/health
Unite is the third largest trade union in the NHS and represents
about 100,000 health sector workers.
This includes seven professional associations:
Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA),
Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP), Medical Practitioners Union
(MPU), Society of Sexual Health Advisors (SSHA), Hospital
Physicists Association (HPA), College of Health Care Chaplains
(CHCC) and the Mental Health Nurses Association (MNHA).
Unite also represents members in occupations, such as allied
health professions, healthcare science, family of psychology,
counsellors and psychotherapists, the family of dental professions,
audiology, optometrists, opticians, building trades, estates,
crafts and maintenance, ancillary support staff and ambulance
workers.
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