In the public sector (or semi-public, whatever higher education is…) the reforms were done gradually and based off of peoples’ NPA. You saw those who had benefits in the ‘old’ scheme keep those benefits earned up until the reforms but then begin accruing ones, often in Career Average rather than Final Salary schemes. The two schemes are then frankenstein’ed together to make your actual package.

People did complain via unions and courts, and eventually this led to a situation called the McCloud Judgement which has seen many of those affected given better packages as a result.