MIDLANDS TUC REGIONAL PENSIONERS NETWORK fULLY SUPPORTS THE UNIONS ACTION ON NOVEMBER 30TH 2011

THE MIDLANDS TUC REGIONAL PENSIONERS NETWORK EXECUTIVE CALLS ON ALL ITS MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE STRIKERS ON NOVEMBER 30TH.

• The Midlands TUC Pensioners Network are pleased to have this opportunity to supports the Strikers on November 30th, this will be  an historic event, and affords us the opportunity of helping to forge strong links between today's and tomorrows pensioners. It's important because the campaign for "Fair Pensions For All" links both the state and occupational pensions and makes it clear that we need better pensions in this country for everyone.
• Britain has a terrible record on pensions. Average company pensions are around £5000 a year and we have one of the lowest state pensions in Europe. One in five older people live below the official poverty line and millions more are struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
• The state pension for those who have worked all their lives is just £102.15 per week - but the poverty line is around the £!72 app per week. If you were low paid when you were working - you will be poor in retirement. Poor workers become poor pensioners.
• Since coming to power this government has already weakened our pension system, by linking future increases to the lower Consumer price index rather than the retail price index. Over a ten year period this would cut your pension by 15-20%. And not just from your Company pension - but your state pension as well.
• We are not all in this together - the average pension of company directors in the top hundred companies is £175,000 per year. Pension inequality is what the Government should be tackling - not trying to cut the pensions of those who teach our children or collect our rubbish.
• The Government wants everyone to work longer and raise the retirement age - at a time when we have the highest unemployment for decades. As pensioners we know the importance of getting young people into work - rather than making us all work until we are 70. The Government is well aware that the richer you are - the longer you will live. The age gap between those in Glasgow and those in Kensington and Chelsea can be as much as seventeen years. Raising the retirement age hurts the poorest the most.
• We should also be clear that the Government and certain sections of the media will try very hard to divide us. But the truth is that we all pay for every one's pension - either through taxes, National Insurance or the price that you pay when you are out shopping. We should also remember that the best pension scheme in the Country is the one that the MP's receive - and we pay for that as well.
• So its time we had a new approach to pensions in this Country. Raise the State pension the poverty level for everyone and then give people the opportunity to earn a decent pension when they are at work.
• The Network fully supports the National pensioners Convention slogan which sends out a very clear message to the Government: -

"We are standing up for today's and tomorrow's pensioners and that is what the action on November 30th is all about".

Sheena Gordon (Sec) Mike McLoughlin (Chair)