A delegation including Liverpool Mp Ian Byrne and former Australian judge Jocelynne Scutt yesterday increased pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, to start mediation talks on behalf of all 50swomen to end the stalemate in paying out compensation and restitution to those who waited six years to get their pensions.
As well as a letter, a petition signed by 36,000 50s women called on the government to get Liz Kendall, the new works and pension secretary, to open talks to sort out this long standing issue which was neglected by both the Tories and Labour during the general election campaign.
Both Tory ministers and Labour shadow ministers kept insisting they needed more time to study the former Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report by the now knighted Sir Rob Behrens ,which found partial maladministration over communications to the 3.8 million women who faced a six year delay until they reached 66 to get a pension. He recommended up to £2,900 each to cover maladministration.
CEDAWinLAW decided this was not enough since it did not cover the past discrimination against women – who had many hurdles to prevent them qualifying for a full pension and have insisted that since the UK signed the UN Convention on Eliminating all forms of Discrimination against Women in 1986 such paltry compensation breaks international law.
Later Jocelynne Scutt, the former Australian judge whose report found discrimination against the women. made a strong speech saying it was time for a new government to open talks and settle this dispute. She did praise Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, for planning to implement one key CEDAW recommendation, promising to implement part of the Equality Act that would gain equal pay for women with men. She pointed out that future generations would at least earn higher pensions as a result – ending the gap in the private sector between men and women.
I also gave a short speech backing the women’s case and calling for action from the government.
Will the government listen? Probably not before the summer recess. But what this shows is that these women are not giving up and there are more MPs who want this settled. It is not going away nor should it until the women have proper compensation.
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They did us short of about £52,000.00 each and think £2,900 will make it up to us. If we purchased this scheme from any other company they would be done for fraud. I have worked since age 15 now almost 70 and still working. Not only did I have to work an extra 6 years, also paid extra 6 years of NI and also paid tax for 6 more years. It is all disgusting and every month they ignore it more people are dying and saving them even more money.
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i hope kier starmer listens, I’ve lost so much money, having worked since I was 14 years old.then I became a teacher. I was not given any notice, no letter arrived, I’ve lost a full size years of my state pension. Going to food banks was a nightmare and caused me so much stress. At one point I almost became homeless. Now I am seriously ill ,had a stroke and have been diagnosed with a serious heart condition ,I’d like at least some of my money so I can enjoy what’s left of my life
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I think all 50’s women feel that if this had happened to men it would have been sorted out by now and they wouldn’t have settled for the derisory amount being talked of. I’ve worked from the age of 15 did not get maternity pay, never claimed benefits and had no notification of the age rise. We were a different generation we were never equal to men. Many of us have cared for family members who were/are sick without pay and still had to work because of this hike in age and no State Pension. All of our financial calculations were based on retiring at 60. There were never the private pensions readily available to most women in the workplace. We’ve kept homes, raised children, looked after partners, parents and worked full time. We’ve paid everything that we were expected to pay into the system and sometimes more and what have we got in return, a massive kick in the teeth and continual procrastination. It’s not good enough!
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What I can’t understand is why not implement fully CEDAW, what are governments afraid of? We already have the equality act 2010, there are already obligations could these not be used? CEDAW needs to be fully implemented, anything less is a sellout. I don’t want my children or grandchildren having to suffer, as we have throughout our lives.
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I agree with all the comments here but have to ask why there is no consideration for women born in the 1960s. How have we reached a point where the language regarding this situation only accounts for 1950s women?
I was born in 1961, began work at 16yo with the promise of a pension at 60yo but will now have to wait until I am 67yo.
Where is the representation for women in my position? It appears that equality has also become selective.
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I think it was the lack of notice. I only knew 15 months before I was to retire that I had to work an extra six years, whereas my sister born 60’s had seven years notice.
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