Members of construction union UCATT have voted in favour of the proposals for the new local government pension scheme (LGPS).
UCATT members have voted 79% in favour of the new proposals for the LGPS. The revised scheme is due to come into effect in 2014.
The ballot follows industrial action taken in November 2011 and lengthy negotiations which saw major changes to the Government’s original proposed changes to the pension scheme.
Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “The new pension scheme is an improvement on the Government’s original proposals. UCATT members have recognised that and have endorsed it.”
UCATT is strongly opposed to the decision to link the LGPS retirement age to the state retirement age, which is set to increase to 68. This is of particular concern for construction and maintenance workers who undertake physically demanding roles and who are already often forced to retire early due to injury and ill health.
UCATT is campaigning alongside the TUC and other unions to oppose increases in the state retirement age.
