GMB Magazine GMB24 Centre Point Spring 2016 | Page 12

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ACTIO

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PENSIO

nditions
On pay and co

GMB’s strong
membership destroys
rotten pension plan

G

MB has reached an agreement
with energy company EDF that
protects defined benefit (DB)
pensions for members within
the company, and keeps the scheme
open to new entrants.
Members within EDF across
23 locations supported the
agreement with a 94 per cent yes
vote on a 75 per cent turnout. It
secures the existing three DB
schemes, and introduces a
DB Career Average Re-valued
Earnings (CARE) scheme that
will benefit the majority of GMB
members, and is secured for at
least the next five years.
The agreement will benefit
women in lower-paid positions
in customer services in
MICK ABRAHAM
particular, as well as members
Lead rep for GMB, Mick
working in nuclear generation, coal negotiated a fairer deal.

PENSIONS SAVED
GMB’s strong position brought
EDF to the negotiating table.
stations, corporate
and field staff.
To reach this
position, GMB
consulted members
widely throughout
EDF, and this gave us a
powerful mandate so the
employer had to take our
position seriously.
Negotiations were led
by GMB’s national pensions

officer Keir Greenaway, with national officer
Eamon O’Hearn and lead rep Mick Abraham.
The whole affair began back in 2014,