County Durham Labour members turned out in force to show support and raise awareness of pension unfairness.
A joint event with the Durham branch of WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) was held last Saturday (March 19) in Stanley.
The aim was two-fold; Labour members and WASPI highlighted the impact of pension unfairness while collecting signatures for Labour’s petition to Save the NHS.
Organised by CLP Women’s Officer and Labour candidate for Stanley in the local election, Lyn Boyd, the event was a huge success, with over 200 signatures collected and even more leaflets distributed.
WASPI fights injustice to women born in the 1950s and affected by changes to state pension laws (1995/2011 acts), fighting to achieve fair transitional state pension arrangements.
The 1995 Conservative Government’s Pension Act included plans to increase women’s state pension age (SPA) to 65- the same as men’s.
While WASPI agrees with equalisation, what it does not agree with is the unfair way the changes were implemented.
Lyn Boyd said: “With little or no personal notice and quicker than promised, those affected by this legislation had no time at all to make alternative retirement plans. That isn’t fair, it isn’t right and we want that addressed.”
WASPI began in 2015 and now has over 140 local groups across the UK that have enjoyed considerable success; receiving grant aid from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, support from Unison, and had five debates held in Parliament.
Over 100 MPs have also backed the group, handing in petitions supporting the campaign.
The event in Stanley is one of many successful demonstrations; with over 2,500 attending a demonstration in London earlier in March.