The CWU Bournemouth & Dorset Amal Branch have made a draft letter for you to send below:

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have a say on the future of my pension. I have contributed to the scheme for a number of years and I am concerned with the proposed changes.

You have asked me to respond to your proposals and I want to formally register my disappointment at Royal Mail’s plan changes. Additionally I want to make sure you take my views into consideration.

 For myself and many of my colleagues entrance into our pension scheme was compulsory and the trust deed guaranteed that you, my employer, would make good any deficit. 

To be absolutely clear I want you to record how my preference is to keep the existing final salary scheme open as it is. However, if there needs to be a change then, I expect that any adjustment you propose significantly improves my pension, unlike the changes put forward. Any proposed change need to include:

• Indexation based on average earnings. Not R.P.I.
   
• Indexation should not be capped at 5%
   
• The removal of the lower earnings deduction (£3,328)
   
• Make all my pay pensionable
   
• To allow existing members to retire at 60 years of age with dignity and without their pension being subject to a 5% actuarial reduction for each year their pension is taken before the age of 65.
   
• There is evidence that the deficit has been reduced by £1 billion due to the returns from investments and other factors. If in the future RM pension scheme goes back into surplus, that this surplus would be used to better the terms and conditions of the RM pension scheme.

In sharing my opinions with you I would also like you to note that the consultation booklet was not very informative and very difficult to understand.

In conclusion, your current proposals are unacceptable and I expect you to negotiate with the CWU on any pension reforms. Any final agreement must be subject to a binding ballot of the members in the scheme.

Name(print)_________________________(sign)____________________________

 Workplace____________________________   Grade________________________

Send it to: Freepost, My Pension, Pond Street, Sheffield S98 6HR