Andrew Dismore

This week’s industrial action has highlighted the Government’s unjust approach to public sector pensions.Whilst some changes are necessary, the Conservative led Coalition Government   have spouted a lot of rubbish about the public sector pension funds in their efforts to justify increased contributions and  reduced benefits.  A short while ago I submitted a Freedom of Information request to Barnet Council about their pension fund. As far as Barnet is concerned, the reply, when it eventually came,  has revealed a huge disparity between those at the top and those who work hard to keep the Borough moving.What is needed is greater equity within the system.  It is not fair that one pensioner alone, a former chief officer, can pocket a £75,000 pension, when  our  refuse collectors’ basic salary when still at work is less than 1/5th of that, never mind how low their pensions are after retirement. Their pension average is only 1/25th of that chief officer’s figure, just over £3,000: hardly an over generous sum for their many years of loyal service. The  average figures show former chief officers received £25,000 pa, whilst a road sweeper gets only 1/8th of that.  If anyone is milking the system it is the senior officers, not those who do the unsung day to day work that council tax payers need to keep the borough moving and on which the borough prides itself – the refuse collectors, gardeners and road sweepers for example, all of whom also now face an uncertain future due to the Conservative Council’s ill advised mass privatisation plans.Moreover, the  London Borough of Barnet has also agreed a deficit repayment period that is considerably shorter than the national average and below that of other employers in the Barnet Pension Fund showing the fund is not in the straights  they suggest it is.The Coalition Government should negotiate a fair deal with the workforce; and  leading Barnet Councillors like Brian Coleman should now come clean and tell the truth about Barnet’s pensions, and not demand ever more from those at the bottom of the tree in their continuing efforts to destroy relations with the Council’s staff.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly candidate for Barnet and Camden