FDA backs further talks on pensions

Over the past few weeks negotiations across all of the public sector pension schemes have intensified.

The Government has asked unions to indicate whether they were prepared to consider an outline of a new scheme as a basis for further negotiations and ultimately ballots of their memberships. In the civil service, the FDA - together with Prospect and GMB - have done so. The Prison Officers' Association also wants to continue in the negotiations. Unite has stated that it "wants negotiations and discussions to be positive and to reach a successful conclusion". However, PCS appears to have rejected the proposals.

The FDA has not at this stage agreed to a new scheme, only that the negotiations have reached a point where the key elements will be put to our Executive Committee at a later date, following further negotiations on a number of outstanding issues. No agreement will be concluded until all members have had their say in a ballot.

Jonathan Baume, FDA General Secretary, said: "We have been able to make progress on a number of key elements in the scheme, though on others - such as pension age and contribution increases - the Government has been clear from the outset that it would not move from its public position.

"There is still considerable work to do to resolve a number of important issues and only once these have been settled will the FDA Executive Committee be able to consider the proposals as a whole and make a recommendation to members. It is members who will then take the final decision in a ballot about whether a new scheme is acceptable.

"I firmly believe that members' interests are best served by continuing to negotiate, but I have also made clear that while we will not call for further industrial action while these outstanding detailed issues are being resolved and we are consulting members, we reserve the right to do so if the discussions fail to produce an acceptable final outcome."