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Scotland's
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About UNISON Retired MembersUNISON works to raise awareness of issues which concern older people and to influence decision makers. Our priorities include:
Retired and working members have a shared interest in obtaining decent incomes in older age, a universal health service and the creation of a civilised society. Today's workers are tomorrow's pensioners and UNISON's members work in public services on which many older people rely. UNISON retired members enjoy all the benefits of UNISON membership including:
If you've been a UNISON member for at least two years on the day you retire and have either received state pension age or get a pension, you can become a retired member.
SCOTTISH RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE REPORT TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008On reading my 2007 report to the A.G.M. of the Scottish Council older people are even worse of than they were last year. We have done another year of campaigning. Meeting Ministers of the Scottish Parliament, MSP's, MP's. A second meeting with Gordon Brown before he became PM and a meeting with Secretary of State for Pensions Peter Hain and Minister of State for Pensions Reform Mike O'Brien and this trio all said older people have never had it so good. Politicians meet us and say how much they care about older people, (older people vote) Look like they are listening but they are not. They live in a different world a world that you only need a receipt for expenses over £250 if you are in Westminster. Politicians don't have to decide will I keep warm or feed myself. A decision many older people have to take every day. This years State Pension rise is just over 3% (£3. 50) a grand total of £90.70 a week, basic state pension. Rents are going up 7%. Council tax, which takes out a big part of your pension may be frozen but care services are being slashed and the services that are still provided are more expensive. Huge increases in electricity and gas bills. Gordon Brown in his last budget abolished the 10p flat rate with tax beginning at 20p instead. So the poorest tax payers our retired low paid workers with there small works pensions now pay double the tax though there pensions have not increased. Members of the Scottish Retired Members Committee sit on the Executive of the Scottish Pensioners Forum and are actively involved in the forums campaigning. I represent the STUC on Scottish Parliament Older Peoples Consultative Forum and The Scottish Parliaments Cross Party Group On Older People Age and Ageing. Scottish Retired Members held their first Conference in 2007. A well attended very successful event. Reported to December Scottish Council. First Annual Scottish Retired Members Conference to be held in April 2008 and will be held same time every year to fit in with National Retired Members Conference. The Scottish Retired member's 2007 bowling tournament was held in August at Kingskettle bowling Club in Fife A very popular event organized every year by our past chairperson Bob Miller. Irene Sweeney REGIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE REPORT TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 9th FEBRUARYThe retired members committee met in December and with the Christmas New Year festivities in between this will be a very short report. The Retired Members Scottish Conference sub group met in January. The first Annual Scottish Retired Members Conference will take place on 15th April 2008 at the STUC offices in Glasgow. I apologize to branches for the very short notice, delegates names to be submitted by 15 February 2008. The conference will take place every year in April from now on to fit in with closing date to National Retired Members conference. Work has started on the good branch practice on how retired members can assist branches. Information is being gathered for first Scottish RM Newsletter. I am meeting with Peter Hain and Mike O'Brian The Pension Ministers on 23 January in London and will report to Council on meeting. Irene Sweeney Scottish and UK Retired Members Conference ReportsThe 2007 National Retired Members Conference was held in Plymouth on 9th-10th October. 48 motions were submitted 20 were rejected by the standing orders committee which included 5 from National Retired Members committee and 3 from Regional Committees. An emergency motion querying the Standing Orders committee decisions was not allowed on the agenda. Scotland's motion trying to debate the effects of devolution on Retired Members organization was ruled out of order. Next years conference will be held in Glasgow. Now for the positive. UNISON Scotland's first Retired Members Conference took place on 29th October. It was organized very quickly as the funding was only agreed at the April meeting of the Scottish Council. I would like to thank Ann Hulme for all her work and the Branches who notified their Retired members at short notice. 70 delegates attended from Shetland to the Borders. Mike Kirby opened the conference and took questions from the floor which was really enjoyed by the delegates (all the issues that have been annoying them for years). It was made very clear we are no longer just a wee social group. Retired members are still trade unionist and care about the Public Sector and many are now needing and paying for the care services they delivered. The main debate was what type of conference Retired Members wanted. 1. motion based Scottish Retired Members committee will look at the different proposals that came from the delegates and send out report to all branches. Other issues;
The afternoon session covered Retired Members involvement in their Branches, in the community and how Scottish politics effects retired members. A very lively interesting debate. A successful first conference. A very busy time ahead for Scottish Retired Members committee. Irene Sweeney |
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