[B]Former Alstom workers have pension hopes dashed again
London, May 16 /PRNewswire/ --
Workers at the former Alstom plant in Lincoln have learnt from a company website that they face further swingeing pension cuts.
Despite assurances from Alstom, who sold the gas turbine site to Siemans last month, workers have discovered through a letter from David Curtis, Alstoms' International Director of Pensions, posted on the company's website that workers applying for early retirement faced a further 20% cut in their pensions.
Workers who retire before 65 already face pension losses of 30% and have been kept totally in the dark over the new plans.
Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson said:
"Workers are justifiably angry about their shrinking pensions packages and the fact that they have had no opportunity to be involved in negotiations on the future of their pension arrangements. Alstom have treated their former employees very shoddily."
The changes came into effect on 1st May and were discovered on the Alstom intranet pension website on 8th May 2003.
Only 5% of the 2,300 workers at the site carry on working until the age of 65 so these changes will make a massive difference to workers' pensions.
Siemans have said they are committed to working with Alstom and workers at the plant to find a solution to the scheme.
A delegation of six shop stewards from Lincoln are travelling to London on Monday to the office of the Alstom Pension Actuary, in the hope of talking to Alstom Trustees who are attending a meeting there.
I just found the above reference to Barrons' previous company posted in 2003. I can't believe he wasn't a member of this scheme and will benefit from it and then joined NATS where he will no doubt do exactly the same again.
Barron has form on taking the benefits and then doing a runner