I’m proud that UNISON is unique among UK unions in having a retired members’ organisation that mirrors that of our working members. Giving our retired members a voice is as important as the support we provide for other self-organised groups in the union. I’ll tell you why that’s never been more crucial.
At our retired members’ conference in Brighton recently, pensioner poverty was the topic on everyone’s lips and with good reason. In one of the richest countries in the world, there are currently at least 1.9 million pensioners living below the breadline.
Given that UNISON is a union with a majority of women members, many of them low-paid, it’s a particular issue for us. This is because the gender pay gap is highest for women over 50 and there is an inevitable impact on pensions. About one in five female pensioners in the UK lives in poverty.
Given this shocking statistic and ahead of the budget later this month, I’m reminding the chancellor that she shouldn’t listen to calls from some to abolish the triple lock on pensions. It’s essential to make sure pensioner poverty does not get even worse.
Since Labour came into power, I have spent too long calling out and criticising government decisions that have made things worse for pensioners. There’s been a lot – campaigning to reverse the decision to restrict the winter fuel allowance and demanding the government pays compensation to the WASPI women born in the 1950’s, who lost out on their pensions through no fault of their own are just two examples.
As general secretary I have worked alongside the WASPI campaigners to raise awareness in the media and to lobby MPs. That fight goes on.
I’m also pleased that UNISON has just submitted detailed arguments against plans to raise the pension age yet again.
Another big issue at our retired members’ conference was digital exclusion as society appears to be moving from digital first to digital only. It can seem relentless and feel very frightening for some older people.
Increasingly so much of our lives is online – from getting a doctor’s appointment, paying for parking, buying car insurance or doing your banking. This can lead to social isolation and affects older people disproportionately. For some, the only conversation they may have is with staff at the supermarket tills – and even most of those are now self-service checkouts.
Finally, there was also a lot of talk at our conference about how both the media and politicians are deliberately pitting older people against younger people. Seeking to create a generational divide by peddling myths about comfortably off pensioners enjoying retirement at young people’s expense.
It’s making pensioners feel expendable, that their experience isn’t valued and as if they are just seen as an ‘expense’ to government.
As general secretary I’m proud that our work for our members in employment is also important in ensuring retired members have decent pensions, good health, and can enjoy their retirement. When we fight for better pay for workers now, we are helping those same workers avoid poverty in old age.
Today’s workers are tomorrow’s pensioners. And I’m proud that as your general secretary, I’m there for all of you. All of the time.
The article Opinion: Why age is no barrier at our union first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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