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Unnecessary pensions dispute |
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Friday, 24 March 2006 |
The expected massive disruption to public services on Tuesday 28th is totally unnecessary in Scotland, claims SNP Group Leader, John Mason. Whatever the Scottish Executive says about age discrimination, it is clear that the real driver to reduce benefits for employees is the funding crisis in English schemes. Many pension schemes in England are seriously under-funded and if local authorities there have to bale them out, it could cost a fortune. Therefore, they are trying to cut benefits and cut their costs.
However, in Scotland it is a completely different picture. The largest fund here, Strathclyde's, is 97% funded. This was reported to the Pension Fund sub-committee at the Council on Thursday 23rd. That means it is not facing any real problems and benefits can easily be maintained here as they are.
It seems Labour in Scotland is so terrified of being different from Labour in England that they are prepared to cut off their nose to spite their face by encouraging this strike to take place. |
