The heads of five of Britain’s biggest trade unions have written to Keir Starmer calling for a U-turn on the decision not to award compensation to millions of WASPI women
The heads of five of Britain’s biggest unions today call on Keir Starmer to U-turn on his WASPI snub on the anniversary of a bombshell report.
The PM has been told he set a “dangerous precedent” by ignoring a Parliamentary watchdog’s recommendation that over three million women should get payouts. The warning comes exactly a year after the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) called on Parliament to award up to £2,950 to 1950s-born women.
In December Labour announced it would not be doing so, sparking a huge backlash. Campaigners launched a High Court judicial review this week.
The leaders of Unison, GMB, the Communication Workers Union, Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and the Fire Brigades Union, said the decision will make many question the point of an Ombudsman.
They wrote: “By disregarding its report, the Government has established a dangerous precedent that suggests official checks and balances on ministers can be ignored, eroding public trust in our democratic institutions.”
And they said members and the wider public are “unequivocal” that payouts should be awarded.
Scroll down to see the letter in full
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Unison general secretary Christina McAnea told The Mirror : “These women lost out on their pensions through no fault of their own. Many now face a much poorer retirement. Ministers should do the right thing and grant the compensation that’s owed.”
Angela Madden, who chairs the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) told The Mirror: “Nobody would have expected that one year after the publication of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report we would still have to be asking 1950s-born women to raise funds for a legal case to secure justice, especially under a Labour government that is meant to fight for social justice and equality.
“With the launch of a judicial review on Monday, the Government now has an opportunity now to get around the table and engage meaningfully with us.
“If they don’t, they will have to continue to defend the indefensible, but this time in front of senior judges.” The damning ombudsman report said maladministration at the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) meant 3.5million women were not properly informed the state pension age was rising.
Worst-hit victims were driven into poverty because they could not properly plan for their future. But the Government pointed to the cost of up to £10.5billion and said this “could not be justified”.
In January Debbie de Spon, WASPI’s communication director, told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee: “We feel disempowered, we’re being airbrushed out of history.”
Announcing there would be no compensation last year, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs: “Given the vast majority of women knew the state pension age was increasing, the Government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women, at a cost of up to £10.5 billion, would be a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers money.”
The letter in full
Dear Prime Minister,
Across the country, women born in the 1950s have worked tirelessly throughout their lives, making substantial contributions to their communities, families, and the workplace, only to be let down at the last moment by the Department for Work and Pensions’ failure to properly communicate increases to their State Pension age.
We are proud that the Labour Party has consistently championed increased protections for workers, women and pensioners but we are deeply disappointed by the Government’s decision to not accept the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman and deliver compensation to affected women.
The Government’s decision risks leaving many to question the purpose of an Ombudsman, if their robust recommendations after a thorough six-year investigation can be ignored by ministers. By disregarding its report, the Government has established a dangerous precedent that suggests official checks and balances on ministers can be ignored, eroding public trust in our democratic institutions.
While we acknowledge the challenging economic circumstances inherited from the previous administration, the overwhelming sentiment among our members and the broader public is unequivocal, the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s findings must be respected and implemented in full.
One year on from the conclusion of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report on 21 March 2024, we urgently call on you to reconsider your decision and fairly compensate all affected women.
Yours sincerely,
Gary Smith, General Secretary, GMB
Christina McAnea, General Secretary, UNISON
David Ward, General Secretary, Communication Workers Union
Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary, Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
Steve Wright, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union
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