Further industrial action will be suspended until talks are concluded.
Ucatt’s executive council has signed up to the heads of agreement document outlining the broad principles that allow negotiations to take place in the coming months. It is anticipated that all talks should conclude by the end of April 2012.
Ucatt members employed in local government, outsourced local authority contractors, the NHS, the prison service and the civil service overwhelmingly voted to support strike action in defence of their pensions and joined the national day of action on 30 November 2011.
Ucatt general secretary Steve Murphy said: “The anger and passion shown by Ucatt members and all public sector workers has resulted in the government making concessions on their pension proposals. Ucatt now feels the time is right to enter into detailed negotiations to seek a long term settlement to this dispute.”
Ucatt said that concessions made by the government include delays in when additional contributions will be introduced, protection for workers nearing retirement, more generous rates at which pensions will build up and commitments that if workers are outsourced they can remain in their public sector pension scheme.
Mr Murphy added: “Ucatt is entering into these negotiations in good faith. However, the government needs to be aware that if talks should break down or what is on offer is unacceptable, then our members can take further industrial action.”
The union has written to every member who was balloted in the pensions dispute, outlining what is being proposed in their own pension scheme.
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