‘Pay more, receive more’

A new and improved pension deal for the 16,000 employees of the nuclear decommissioning authority (NDA) is to be put to workers, including members of Unite.

The new proposals were hammered out between energy minister Jesse Norman, and Unite, the GMB union and Aslef. They will be voted on by staff this spring.

Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne said, “As far as the unions are concerned, after 14 months of intensive negotiations, we believe that on the pension issue this is the best that can be achieved by negotiation.

“The package will be put to members in a ballot this spring and enshrines the principle that we set out to achieve – ‘to pay more is to receive more’. It is hoped that this settlement will be protected for the next 30 years.

“A significant achievement was to roll back the £620m savings demanded by the Treasury to a more manageable figure of £320m.

“Unite will be embarking on a major exercise to inform our members of the new proposals and what it means to their future retirement incomes.”

What is envisaged is a career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme which will involve an increase in the accrual rate – marking a positive benefit for all. However, contributions are to set to increase. Many of the established benefits will remain unchanged.

There will be a meeting of the shop stewards from all the unions in London on Tuesday March 7. This will be followed by site meetings to explain the proposals and, finally, the ballot.

Unite has nearly 3,000 members working across the NDA estate with the main sites being at Sellafield and Magnox.