Workers to vote on pension reforms

More public sector workers are to vote on whether to accept the Government's controversial pension reforms.

Unison said 1,000 of its members in the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, including Ofsted inspectors, police ombudsmen in Northern Ireland, Welsh Government workers and meat hygiene inspectors, will be balloted over the next few weeks.

Union members will be asked if they want to accept or reject the proposed pension proposals, with Unison saying they are the best that can be achieved through negotiations.

National officer Simon Watson said progress had been made on the pension proposals since the strike action by more than one-and-a-half million public sector workers last November.

"We have always said that it is down to our members to make the final decision as to whether to accept or reject the proposals. Unison is working hard to ensure that all scheme members have the information they need to make an informed choice. We will be saying to members that the pension offer is the best that can be achieved through negotiations."

Unison is balloting its members in the NHS over whether to accept the new pension arrangements.

PA