Prospect are set to brief politicians today (13th April 2016) ahead of a key vote next week in Tynwald on Government pensions. The union have offered MHKs and MLCs the opportunity to hear Prospect Pensions Officer, Neil Walsh talk about the proposals and discuss the issues ahead of next week’s debate on the subject.

Prospect, who represent a broad range of over 2000 public sector staff including admin, technical, manual, health, social care and energy workers, are one of 2 unions along with the Prison Officers’ Association, opposing Government proposals to slash pensions again for public sector workers.

Angela Moffatt, Negotiations Officer for Prospect said:

“We are talking direct to politicians, to highlight our fears on the impact on public services. The strongest and most consistent question we are asked is, can I leave the scheme, can I leave before this comes in? There’s a crisis of confidence.

The bulk of our members are earning under the national average wage, and over a third earn under ?20K a year. Most of our members are non- managerial or manual workers now. They are being priced out of a pension.

The Government are saying that a key reason for the current cash flow problems is the amount of people leaving and taking their pension earlier than expected.

I think we are sticking our heads in the sand, if we think that this problem is not going to continue, and indeed get worse.

We’re asking politicians not to rush a decision but negotiate a sustainable solution which restores trust and credibility.”

Public sector workers will be asked to pay more for their pensions, and get less pension as a result only 4 years after Government reformed the bulk of public sector schemes and promised there would be no further change until 2020.

Prospect are asking for negotiation so that a fair and sustainable settlement can be achieved to avoid further problems and restore some credibility and trust in the Government’s ability to manage public sector pensions.