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After weeks of hard negotiation, two UNI's affiliates in the UK - the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Connect - announced on Tuesday that it is supporting a series of changes to BT’s UK pensions.



According to Connect, "this agreement would make significant changes to the BTPS, and we recognise that changes to the BTPS would be unwelcome. However, through negotiation, we have secured positive changes to BT's original intentions in their changes to pensions.  We have also secured significant improvements to the BTRP as part of this package of proposed changes. Crucially, this agreement would bring long term stability and sustainability to BT pensions as we have secured a legally enforceable agreement to protect your pensions now and for the future."



Andy Kerr, deputy general secretary of CWU, said: “The CWU has fought hard to secure the best possible negotiated deal on the future of pensions for BT employees. We have taken decisive action to protect the long term interests of our members in the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) and improve arrangements in the Defined Contribution pensions. We have secured an Agreement to ensure the future sustainability of the BT Pension Scheme and keep it open for future service while improving BT’s contributions for the Defined Contribution pension members. We have challenged BT every step of the way over the last few months and we have significantly altered BTs proposals. In the BTPS we have ensured that service before April 2009 remains linked to final salary, that the retirement age rise is phased in, and that contribution rates are in future linked to income levels. For Defined Contribution members we have improved BT’s contributions and ensured that the lowest paid benefit the most.”