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Unions Against Lift of Pension Eligibility
Australia, May 25, 2009 – Left-wing trade unions are not happy about Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s plan to lift the pension eligibility from 65 to 67.
The unions insist that workers should be allowed to retire at 65. The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union as well as the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have warned of a potential showdown over the issue during the Labor Party national conference in July.
In a letter to Rudd, CFMEU national secretary John Sutton and AMWU national secretary Dave Oliver said that it is unfair and unrealistic to expect 65-year-olds to work in heavy labour.
Sutton said the Prime Minister’s plans had angered Union members. “You are talking about people who have worked nigh on 50 years and they are now being told it will be compulsory, you will not be able to access the pension until later life. I just think that’s a bridge too far.”
The unions are set to raise the issue at ACTU’s national congress next month and in July during ALP’s national conference.
As part of the 2009-2010 budget, the Government said it would gradually lift the pension eligibility age to 67 by 2023. “Increasing the pension age is a responsible reform to meet the challenge of an aging population and the economic impact it will have for all Australians,” said Rudd. “Australia’s shift in pension age is in line with what is happening all over the world. The United States, Germany, Norway and Denmark are moving to a pension age of 67 years and Britain is moving towards 68 years.”
Source:
theaustralian.news.com.au
