NIPSA Calls For End to Attacks on Pensions
NIPSA Calls For End to Attacks on Pensions
30/07/2010
Northern Ireland’s largest Trade Union today called for an end to attacks on Public Service Pensions. The call was made in NIPSA’s submission to the Independent Public Service Pension Commission, set up by the Government to examine public service pensions and led by John Hutton.
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NIPSA General Secretary, Brian Campfield, said
“First the Government attacked the jobs of thousands of public servants, then they imposed a pay freeze and now they are looking to erode the pension rights of millions of public service workers. Public service pensions are important to help people survive in retirement but they are not the gold plated windfalls the Government and right-wing pressure groups claim, a quarter of Civil service pensioners get less than £60 per week, whilst for NHS pensioners a quarter get less then £40 per week.”
In it’s submission to Hutton, NIPSA calls for an end to attacks on public service pensions and highlights that despite the myths they are affordable, sustainable, transparent and fair to both the taxpayer and public servants.
NIPSA spokesperson, Bumper Graham, said
“Over the past 5 years considerable changes and reforms to public service pensions have taken place to such an extent that in that period whilst the costs have risen 33% employee contributions have gone up 55%. Pensions are not only essential in attracting people to work in the public services, they in fact avoid the taxpayer having to pay billions of pounds out in state means tested pension credits. This review came about because of the race to the bottom in pensions organised and supported by the likes of the IOD/CBI and those in Boardrooms with million pound pensions, that is the problem not the average public sector pension of less then £8,000 a year.”
ENDS
Notes
1. NIPSA has 46,000 members of which approximately 21,000 are in the Civil Service Pension Scheme, 9,000 in the Health Service Scheme and 15,000 in the Local Government Scheme.
2. In addition to the 45,000 active pension scheme members NIPSA also protects the interests of thousands of retired and deferred members of public service pension schemes.
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