Results of RCN member vote on pensions

Published: 01 March 2012

For immediate release:  Tuesday 28 February 2012

 

Results of RCN member vote on pensions

 

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) governing Council met today to discuss the next steps on NHS pensions following a vote of members.  The vote closed on Monday 27th February and 65,759 votes were cast, a turnout of 16.17%. 41,009 members, (62.36%), voted to reject the government’s proposals, whilst 24,533 members, (37.30%), voted to accept the proposals.

 

 Professor Kath McCourt, Chair of RCN Council said:

 

“Council met today to hear the results of the member vote on NHS pensions and to consider the next steps. While the members who voted expressed a clear view, showing their anger at the government proposals, we are disappointed that more of our members did not take the opportunity to vote.  We will now, as a matter of urgency, meet with other unions who are at varying stages in their own member consultations.”

 

Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

 

“Throughout this process, our members’ number one concern about pensions has been the prospect of working in a physically demanding job until the age of 68; which is due to take effect in 2046. The Government has acknowledged the physical demands of professions such as the police, who are not facing the prospect of working until they are nearly 70. We vehemently believe the demands of nursing mean that the same should apply to our profession and we are committed to stepping  up campaigning on this issue to make the Government change its mind.

 

“It’s clear when I listen to nurses from around the UK, that the pressures facing them are immense; not just on the pensions issue, but also the prospect of a massive NHS reorganisation, the threat of redundancy, a pay freeze and deteriorating staffing levels. Despite all this, nurses and healthcare assistants continue to put the interests of their patients first. That’s why they were so dismayed when the Secretary of State for Health attributed our opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill to simple self-interest on the pensions issue. The anxieties of our members continue, and we will continue to speak up on their behalf.”

 

Ends

Notes for Editors

 

 65,759 votes were cast.

 

The RCN invited all members to vote with the exception of retired members, on the basis that any who are not retired may enter the NHS scheme at some point, even if they have not been up to that point. Further analysis is being undertaken, but initial indications suggest that 64% of those members who are currently paying in to the NHS pensions scheme voted to reject the proposals.

 

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

 

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.