Friday, October 11, 2002
British union group calls for end in discriminatory pensions
A story released today by the BBC reports that a leading union in Britain has warned that hundreds of thousands of people are missing out on adequate pensions due to legal anomalies.
The T&G is calling on the government to rectify these inequalities within its pensions green paper, due to be published later this autumn.
Under existing rules, women, younger people and people in same-sex relationships miss out, the Transport & General Workers' Union (T&G) said.
The T&G wants the government to ensure that:
Survivors' benefits apply to all, including people in same-sex relationships.
Women on maternity leave get their National Insurance credits made up automatically. Many women miss out on the pension they are entitled to as they are simply not aware that they can receive such credits whilst on maternity leave.
Young people are included in the pensions system by improving access to and information about pensions.
The amount of the over-80s' bonus is increased. The T&G wants the 25p extra given to pensioners over the age of 80 to be raised. In particular, because it believes this disadvantages women who tend to live longer than men.
Diana Holland of T&G, said: "The pensions system is still based around a married person in full-time employment throughout their working life, a model that just does not apply to today's world."
