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Statement on Civil Service Pension Scheme
21 December 2011
You will be aware from yesterday and today's media and
newspapers the Civil Service Unions (National Trade Union
Committee) were given a deadline to sign up to what is termed a
Heads of Agreement.
This Heads of Agreement asked the National TUC to give a
written agreement by 10.00am on Monday 19th December 2011, that
each Union would put to its respective executives recommending the
Heads of Agreement and giving an under-taking that our union and
others would not take further industrial action whilst talks were
in progress. If we did not sign by the deadline then it would
be concluded we rejected the agreement and would be outside the
discussions.
Colleagues whilst there could be a basis for agreement at some
point there are still ten important issues that are
outstanding.
Furthermore I also point to an important fact that none of the
three issues that made industrial action necessary on 30th November
2011 have been addressed.
Unites stance is we felt we were being bounced into an
artificial deadline by the Government so that a statement could be
given in the House today on Public Service Pensions.
In taking the above view and not signing up to the Heads of
Agreement and in particular not suspending the industrial action
mandate, means this view has come about because we want to discuss
the offer and the issues with yourselves on the 11th January
2012. It is only right that the strategy for our section in
this important issue around pensions should be discussed and laid
in front of you at a meeting of both NISC and lay activists.
Colleagues, I enclose a side letter that I wrote to the
cabinet office yesterday re-iterating our reason for rejection but
truly wanting to keep talking and negotiating.
We always said the Government's timetable was unrealistic and
Unite is not willing to compromise our commitment to Lay Leadership
consultations on the critical issue of their pensions.
Finally colleagues I would ask that you try to make the
meeting on the 11th January. I would also like to personally
thank you for your help and assistance over the last 6-7
months.
I wish you and yours the compliments of the season.
With Best Wishes
Mike McCartney
National Officer
MoD/Government Sector
