Royal Mail has claimed that a leaked document proposing plans to increase the retirement age and make cuts to its defined benefit pension scheme is out of date.
The document, leaked to the Mirror, detailed various proposals, including the closure of the final salary pension scheme to new members from next year. The proposals reportedly included: the closure of the final salary scheme to new members from next year, an increase in the organisation’s retirement age from 60 to 62 years from next year and to 65 years from 2010, future rises in pensionable pay being capped at the inflation rate and lump sum payments being cut. The document also stated that a decision has yet to be made and that the proposals are to form a basis for consultation.
A spokesman at The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that he had seen the report and that the proposals detailed by the Mirror were accurate.
However, the Royal Mail insisted that the document is out of date. A spokesman said: “Royal Mail said very clearly earlier this year that it would be consulting on the future of the pension scheme for both new recruits and existing members but no decisions have yet been taken as we have not even begun the formal consultation.
“The proposal the Mirror appears to have seen is one that Royal Mail subsequently decided not to publish or to put into consultation because of further input from and discussions with the unions. The proposal is out of
date.”
If implemented, the plans would affect workers at Royal Mail, Post Office and Parcelforce Worldwide.
Dave Ward, deputy general secretary of the CWU, said: “Our members aren’t going to roll over and accept this. It will only galvanise support for strike action.”
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