The real pensions scandal

TUC research exposes huge subsidy to the wealthiest

Many politicians and media outlets are making exaggerated claims that public sector pensions are unfair, unaffordable and unreformed. For example the Guardian carried an article in July with the absurd headline “Public Sector Pensions cost 85% of GDP”.
But new research by the TUC challenges these myths:

• Last year the public subsidy to the pensions for all teachers, lecturers,
health workers and civil servants was £4bn. But the public subsidy
through pensions tax relief to those earning from £150,000 upwards
was £10bn!

• So for every £1 the taxpayer spends on public sector pensions, we
spend £2.50 on the pensions of the 1% of people earning over
£150,000.

• Public sector pensions presently cost only 1.5% of GDP, the cost will
peak at 2% in 2028 before stabilising at 1.8% until at least 2058.

• Four years ago, public sector pensions were changed so that
unexpected future costs will be shared between the employees and the
employer.

David Cameron is trying to whip up public outrage by using emotional
language describing the difference between public and private sector
pensions as 'apartheid'. Now it is true that twice as many public sector
workers have an occupational pension compared with the private sector –
following big attacks on private sector pensions by businesses over the last
20 years

This comes from http://www.kevin4dgs.com/materials

As yet WSTA has not endorsed any candidate for the deputy general secretary job. There will be a chance to do so at the hustings meeting which is to be arranged.