First Hull Trains Section of the Railways Pension Scheme (Rps) – Closure to New Entrants

My Ref: MRP 1/8/45

                                                 30th April 2014
 
                                          Circular Num: NP/088 /14

To: The Secretary All Branches & Regional Councils

Dear Colleagues,

FIRST HULL TRAINS SECTION OF THE RAILWAYS PENSION SCHEME (RPS) –
CLOSURE TO NEW ENTRANTS

I have been advised that management are proposing to close the First Hull Trains section of the RPS to new entrants. This proposal is a result of the Auto Enrolment (AE) obligations placed on the employer and the costs associated with running a defined benefit pension scheme.

As I am sure you will agree that any such proposal is unacceptable at the best of times but this one is particularly distasteful when considering that AE is there to give workers the opportunity to save for their retirement not to give employers a green light to close their final salary pension arrangements.

The RMT recently met with management and requested that this proposal is withdrawn. Management stated that they would consider the RMT’s position and report back soon. ASLEF have also taken the same stance.

This issue was placed in front of the General Grades Committee on 29th April 2014 and the following report was adopted:

“We note that management propose to close the Hull Trains Pension Scheme to new entrants.

The Acting General Secretary is instructed to write to ASLEF seeking their support for a joint campaign to explore all possible options to keep the pension scheme open.”

In line with this decision I have written to ASLEF and will keep you informed of developments.

Yours sincerely,




Mick Cash
Acting General Secretary