Royal College of Nursing on lookout for alternative to pension scheme

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called on its unions to come up with “imaginative” alternatives to its final salary pension scheme, which is due to close next year.

The RCN is currently reviewing its pensions provision, and is in consultation with the GMB union about a replacement defined-­contribution scheme for several hundred staff.

Beverly Malone, RCN general secretary, said the organisation’s £42m deficit was a “serious matter that could not be ignored”. She added: “We hope to encourage GMB members to come up with imaginative solutions to the final salary scheme. The consultation period is still very much open and [scheme closure] is not a done deal.”

But Liz Longstaff, GMB branch chair at the RCN, said: “It is bizarre for the RCN to argue with the government for a final salary scheme for nurses and then to reject out-of-hand the continuation of the same [type of scheme] for its own staff.”

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