PENSIONS - WHY WE ARE
ON STRIKE ON 28 MARCH
Why are we on strike?
The rule of 85 allows Local Government pension
Scheme members to voluntarily retire from age
60 on full pension where their age plus membership
equals 85 years. Members between 50 and 60 may
also retire but only with their employers' consent.
From October 2006, anyone under 53 faces having
to work on to 65 before getting a full pension,
no matter how long you have worked and paid
into the scheme.
But other public service workers have had their
pensions protected by the government. Why not
members of the Local Government Scheme?
We've paid into the fund, we are entitled to
the benefits we signed up to.
Are we 'lazy' fat cats, better off than the
private sector?
Nonsense! 75% of local government pensions
pay less than £5,000 pounds a year The
average pension is £3,800 a year Half
the people eligible to join the LGPS work in
12 occupations, including - Classroom assistants,
care assistants and home carers, school mid-day
assistants, catering assistants, cleaners, nursery
nurses. (others are clerical officers, social
workers, school secretaries, Youth and Community
workers, Housing and welfare officers, and general
office assistants.)
If there were no Local Government Pension
Scheme, and its members relied on state pension/pension
credit, the Government would be £2bn a
year worse off.
Women (the majority of most local government
scheme members - 72%) have an average pension
of £1,616 - just £31 a week. 75%
of women have a pension below £3,600.
£66% of women are covered by the Rule
of 85.
Why is this happening?
The government says the rule of 85 is age discrimination
under a European age discrimination directive
which has not yet been enacted. This is despite
the legal advice commissioned by UNISON and
CoSLA which give different interpretations of
the directive and potential legislation.
It also conflicts with the public statements
of the EU's spokeswoman on employment, social
affairs and equal opportunities, Katherina Von
Schnurbein.
Tom McCabe, the Minister for Finance and Public
Sector Reform has seen our legal advice but
refused to reveal his! Our pension fund is healthy.
We signed up and paid for the benefits. Those
benefits should not be stolen from us.
FIGHT FOR YOUR PENSION
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