Sunday, June 30, 2002

British local government workers will not get equal pension treatment for domestic partners

A story released by the Observer reports that hundreds of thousands of local British government workers have been refused pensions for their unmarried partners. The decision comes just months after Britain’s parliament members awarded themselves the same benefit.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who is now responsible for local government, last week rejected unions' request for equal pensions treatment.

A spokesman for Prescott insisted yesterday: 'If a man and a woman marry and that marriage is still in place when one dies, they can identify immediately who the partner is. With unmarried couples it's more difficult. Therefore there is a premium to be paid by unmarried couples.'

The unions insist the costs of 'fair pensions' are lower than the Government believes, and should be borne by employers. They say it is unfair to require some low-paid public workers to pay higher contributions.

Labour MP James Purnell, a member of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee and a former Downing Street policy adviser, said: 'Quite rightly, we've been able to do this for certain people in the public sector, and there's been a strong level of parliamentary support. It's important we should treat local government workers the same way.'