Protected Pensions for Disabled Workers in the Community Sector

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Conference
2014 Community Service Group Conference
Date
2 November 2013
Decision
Carried

Conference is concerned that when members in the Community Sector are going through the TUPE process, the exclusion of their pension rights can have a detrimental effect on disabled workers.

Disabled people are already likely to have gaps in their employment, which means that they are unable to build up the number of years required to receive a full pension. The failure to include pension rights in TUPE means that disabled staff suffer doubly, as they are likely to be moved onto an inferior pension scheme whenever they are transferred.

We now also face a rise in the state pension age, and a rise in the age when unreduced occupational pensions can be claimed. Having to work longer means that some disabled members are more likely to be forced into ill health retirement. But inferior pension schemes are likely to have less ill health retirement provisions, which again disadvantages disabled members. This unfair policy needs to be challenged and changed.

We call on the service group executive to;

i) Circulate information on the different types of pension schemes being used in the Community Sector

ii) Provide guidance on negotiating in TUPE transfers within Community

iii) Campaign for pension protection to be included in TUPE by liaising with Labour Link