Waspi women ready for big day of protest
THE WASPI women of Burscough will be joining others from around the UK in protest as part of a nationalday of action.
The event on Saturday, December 7, is raising awareness of the Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign among local people against rises in the state pension age for women.
The aim is to keep it in the forefront of MPs’ minds and to remind women born in the 1950s that votes can make a big difference.
The Waspi Burscough Group will be in the area outside Tesco car park and Hyltons Carpets and Beds in Liverpool Road North from 1pm.
They will then protest in Ormskirk town centre from 2.30pm beside the clock tower.
Jeannie Pritchard, 68, is owner of Pritchard’s Doll and Teddy Hospital and is one of millions of women in the UK affected by the age increase.
She formed the local group which had its first meeting at the Bull and Dog Inn on Friday November 22.
In attendance was Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for West Lancashire Rosie Cooper, Labour councillor Andrew Pritchard and author Christopher Ryley.
Jeannie said: “It started at 1.30pm so some couldn’t make it because of work but it was a really good turnout. And it was very good of Rosie Cooper to come down and speak to us all and support the cause.”
Women born in 1950s say the rise in pension age is an injustice because they were not given enough time to make adjustments to cope without a state pension and many have been left homeless and destitute.
Jeannie said: “It affects everyone, not just women born in the 1950s. The
Government keeps raising the pension age and it affects future generations – children, mothers and grandmothers.
“There’s a misconception that it’s a benefit we’re asking for. It’s not, it’s money we’ve paid in that’s been robbed from us.
“I’ve worked since I was 12 when I first had a newspaper round. I worked in social services with disabled children and didn’t want to retire but had to due to illness.
“I have no pension and I get about £4 a month Universal Credit. Luckily I have children who have helped me. Many other women are the same.
“You have to think of it like this – if it was an ISA and you’d put into a bank and didn’t get it back, there would be uproar. We need to keep on fighting.
“I ask for any women affected, or who will be in the future, to please come and support the cause and help these women get their money back.”
To find out more about the Waspi Burscough and Surrounding Areas Group, look for the Facebook group.