1,000 signatures reached
To: Ed Milliband
Deliver Justice To Mineworkers and Their Families
To ensure constructive discussion between the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) trustees and the relevant government departments, around the treatment of investment reserves.
The discussions to recognise the similarities between the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS ) and BCSSS, with a view to ensuring both schemes are treated with parity. Requiring the government to return some of the billions of pounds of investment reserve they have taken from BCSSS as they plan to do so for the MPS. So improving the return of the pensioners.
The discussions to recognise the similarities between the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS ) and BCSSS, with a view to ensuring both schemes are treated with parity. Requiring the government to return some of the billions of pounds of investment reserve they have taken from BCSSS as they plan to do so for the MPS. So improving the return of the pensioners.
Why is this important?
Since the scheme was closed in 1994 the guarantor (government) have taken a total of £3.2 billion from the investment reserve and are to take another £2.3 billion in 2033.
The guarantor had a pension contribution holiday of about 7/8 years before 1994. Hence for over 40 years the government have never contributed to the scheme but continue to profit from it.
At the recent Labour Party conference Ed Milliband committed “to finally deliver justice to the mine workers and their families”. However the labour government appear to have overlooked the BCSSS and are only engaged with the MPS.
Many people had their pensions moved from MPS to BCSSS, as their roles in the industry changed. Both schemes have broadly similar aims, to provide pensions for retired staff from the coal mining industry. The government to “deliver justice” to all mineworkers must deal with BCSSS as it is with MPS and make the necessary changes to no longer profiteer from the BCSSS.
The guarantor had a pension contribution holiday of about 7/8 years before 1994. Hence for over 40 years the government have never contributed to the scheme but continue to profit from it.
At the recent Labour Party conference Ed Milliband committed “to finally deliver justice to the mine workers and their families”. However the labour government appear to have overlooked the BCSSS and are only engaged with the MPS.
Many people had their pensions moved from MPS to BCSSS, as their roles in the industry changed. Both schemes have broadly similar aims, to provide pensions for retired staff from the coal mining industry. The government to “deliver justice” to all mineworkers must deal with BCSSS as it is with MPS and make the necessary changes to no longer profiteer from the BCSSS.
