Bidding for equal pensions
Ayrshire women travelled to Holyrood last week to campaign for pension equality.
The Women Against State Pension Injustice campaigners are campaigning for women born in the 1950s to be given money equivalent to the amount they would have received if they’d have qualified for their state pension at the age of 60.
It argues that women born in the 1950s should get the payment in recognition of the fact they were not given enough warning and therefore time to prepare for changes to their state pension age.
The motion was led by Sandra White MSP, who highlighted the plight of 1950s- born women by telling the personal stories of two Ayrshire WASPI women.
There were resounding speeches and the younger generation of MSPs linked this injustice to their own mothers and constituents.
Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, met with the WASPI group in the Parliament last week.
She has strongly criticised the UK Government for its failure to act on the hardship it is causing to women born in the 1950s.
Jeane said: “The women who are caught up in this mess grew up, as I did, believing that they had a two- way deal with the UK Government. They have been badly let down.
“I have no problem with equalising the pension age between men and women but the Tory Government’s failure to rectify this is not about pension- age equalisation or fairness.
“It is entirely about saving money and saving money on the backs of women who have worked hard all their lives, paid their taxes and national insurance and now have had their retirement plans shattered. WASPI women are paying for the proliferation of riches for the few and the mad ‘ casino’ gambling of minimally regulated banks that successive Tory and Labour Governments foisted on us.
“But the women are not powerless. They have found their voice and, like women everywhere, they are organised and organising. For that, the WASPI movement is to be congratulated.
” It is time for the UK Government to listen to these women and redress this injustice.”
Email ayrshirewaspi@gmail.com for more information on the group.