Nurses “distressed and angry” at pension attacks - RCN
Published: 21 October 2011
The Royal College of Nursing today outlined the anger felt by nurses at Government attacks on NHS pensions and reiterated that industrial action was inevitable unless their concerns were addressed by the Government.
The RCN also warned that only a third (35 percent) of nurses said they would opt to stay in the NHS pension scheme if pension contributions were increased by three percent or more, in its response to the Government consultation on contribution increases to the NHS Pension Scheme from 2012.
Royal College of Nursing Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, Janet Davies, said:
“Many nurses are not only concerned about losing their jobs, but are distressed and angry that the Government is looking at making them pay more, work longer but receive less. The average NHS pension for a woman is less than £4000 a year and targeting them now is completely unjust. The reality is that many of our members will simply not be able to afford to make the proposed overall contribution increase and will have to opt-out of their scheme.
“It is our belief that the current NHS pension scheme is fit for purpose following the changes made in 2008. There have already been fundamental changes to the scheme, which the RCN has supported, such as an increase in contribution where the highest earners pay most. There will be no additional burden on the general taxpayer.”
RCN Council has already agreed to support colleagues in the day of action on November 30 and has warned that industrial action is inevitable if negotiations do not deliver a fair outcome for nurses and healthcare assistants.
Janet Davies added:
“The truth is that the increased contributions will simply go to the Treasury to help pay off deficits that hard working nurses and healthcare assistants have had no part in creating. The RCN is ready to ballot if the anger of nurses is not heard as we head to the end of the negotiations with the Government.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
1 For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
2 The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations