Health secretary Andrew Lansley has decided to impose the Tories’ pensions offer on NHS workers, despite all major health unions voting to oppose the deal.
He threatened to exclude the Unite union and the British Medical Association (BMA) from negotiations. Both took recent action against the attacks.
Members in Unison’s health sector rejected the deal, despite the lack of a campaign in the ballot and the Unison leadership’s refusal to give a recommendation. Royal College of Nursing members also voted to reject.
In Unite, GMB and the BMA, the votes were overwhelmingly against. Unite remains opposed to the attacks. And delegates at the BMA conference voted for further action alongside other public sector unions.
Unfortunately Unison officials at a national meeting of health unions accused Unite and the BMA of being “divisive” for proposing further action.
Health workers should pressure their union leaders to respect their votes and coordinate a response now to defend pensions.