We campaign for change, offer advice, information and hold regular meetings throughout the year.
Due to unforseen difficulties, our website in now under reconstruction and should be updated daily after the 26th May 2013. I do apologise to all members and supporters and I will offer a complete explanation, when the outstanding matters are eventually resolved. Thanks for your support. Ivor Timson WMPC- Webmaster. May 2013
Meetings and Speakers.
Homepage of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention UK. Welcome.
Breaking News!
Queen’s Speech has a hollow ring on the issues of pensions and care.
Britain’s biggest pensioners organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has claimed the words in today’s Queen’s Speech don’t match what the government intends to do in the areas of pensions and care. The Queen announced that the the government would “reward people who work hard” and “support people who have saved for their retirement”, yet the plans on both pensions and care do neither. Existing pensioners will not gain any benefit from a new single-tier state pension despite having worked hard and those with savings will be faced with a care bill of over £70,000 before they get any financial help.
On the proposal for a single-tier state pension, Dot Gibson NPC general secretary said: “The government’s new single-tier state pension is actually going to cost less than the existing system and is really trying to con people into thinking they are going to get a better deal, when the reality is you will have to work longer, pay more and get less when you eventually retire. Millions of existing pensioners, particularly women will not see any improvement in their pensions and future generations of pensioners will find they actually get less than they would have done under the existing system. This plan will create a two-tier state pension, which rather than addressing the current unfairness in the system will simply prolong it and in some cases, make it worse. It’s the sort of proposal that is the equivalent to something that fell off the back of a lorry.”
On the proposal to reform the way in which long-term care is financed, Dot Gibson NPC general secretary said: “The government intends to ask anyone with assets or income above £118,000 to pay £72,000 in care costs before they receive any help from the state. This plan will help around one in 10 people – whilst the rest will never get any help at all. Despite what’s been claimed, these plans will still result in people having to sell their homes as the only way of funding their care, and nothing at all has been said about how we desperately need to improve the quality and standards of care that people receive in the community. The social care system is in crisis, with further cuts on the way and yet these plans could be described as little more than tinkering at the edges. It’s time we have a National Care Service, like the NHS that everyone pays into so that people can be properly cared for when they need it.”
Some pensioners should now hand back some 'benefits'! Already received comments to say this could be the slippery slope, to the end of the winter fuel allowance and bus passes, as examples. It is often forgotten that most have paid into the system for all their lives and often still contribute through being carers and voluntary workers.
This statement creates an image of a queue of retired people and pensioners rushing to send their hard earned 'benefits' back. Most of us realise that this is hardly likely to happen and most will not be rushed into dividing a society that already, needs to be repaired.
We should be concerned about these statements and be prepared and more organised for future events.
Please also view our new blog. Thanks.
Received the following about our care servive and dementia which made the headlines.
“Many families of those suffering from dementia have been quick to point out the potential benefits of using a tracking device to help find their loved ones if they should go missing, and whilst this is understandable, it doesn’t really address the fundamental issue of how we look after those who can no longer look after themselves.
What is widely accepted is that the social care system in England is collapsing, and the needs of many older people are simply failing to be addressed. Local councils have suffered a thirty per cent reduction in care budgets, services are now heavily rationed to those with the most severe conditions and almost a million pensioners who need some kind of care are denied any help at all. This puts a tremendous strain on the family carers – many of whom are themselves older and contending with their own health issues.
Thinking that dignified care can be delivered by a means-tested social care system, which relies on low paid staff carrying out fifteen minute visits is simply fanciful. The quality of care people receive varies greatly, the support that families receive can be patchy and yet someone is making money out of domiciliary care. Very few politicians seem prepared to discuss the fact that without radical reform, and an urgent injection of funds, some of our most vulnerable older people will simply slip through the cracks.
For the entire article please visit the NPC website. Thanks. http://npcuk.org/
Tens of thousands of people have marched against proposals to downgrade Stafford Hospital's services.
A report published in February called for the closure of acute services including the A&E department.
The trust that runs the hospital was put into administration by the health regulator on Monday.
Support Stafford Hospital campaigners have indicated that more than 30,000 people had joined the mile-long march, from the town centre to the hospital.
The campaign groups said the town's Market Square was full of protesters. Apparently, it tookat least 45 minutes for it to clear prior to the march starting. An inspirational campaign, which we all should surely support.
Newsflash.
New designed website coming soon for all those in the later life process. Please let me have your views.
NHS sell-off regulations- the campaign against private companies controlling our NHS continues.
The latest poll from the King's Fund shows how both young and old continue to support the principles of the NHS: that healthcare, funded through taxation, is available to all on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay. On 24-25 April the Lords will debate competition regulations made under section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act, which, if implemented, establishes a default position of local commissioning groups having to put services out to tender. It would put profit before patients, quick fixes before quality care and seriously undermine the NHS, leaving many people to suffer under a postcode lottery.
Yet experience has shown that the market has already damaged the culture of the NHS. From 1948 onwards the public have helped create, fund and support the principle of healthcare for all. The government has no mandate to end this. Those of us who value the NHS must defend it. Contact a peer and ask them to show their opposition to the competition regulations.
Dot Gibson National Pensioners Convention, Ken Loach Director, Spirit of '45, Paul NowakTUC.
Received the following information from Going to Work.
The House of Lords voted to reject calls to drop the government’s new NHS competition regulations. Liberal Democrat Peers joined the Conservatives in obeying the government whip and the motion laid against the regulations lost by over a hundred votes.There’s no disguising that this is a big defeat for those of us who want to see the NHS remain a true public service, run on the basis of patient needs, rather than maximising private shareholder returns.
Government health spokesperson in the Lords Earl Howe was adamant that the regulations did not in effect impose competition on local GP-led commissioning groups. However, it’s very hard to see what other effect the combination of strict definitions and increased legal threats from private health providers would have, other than to force local commissioners to put services out to the market.
Earl Howe promised further guidance for commissioning groups in interpreting the regulations, and we will be watching it closely. But this is unlikely to change anything, as however politely he words them, the guidelines will be trumped in law by the regulations themselves.
We now face the very real risk that local commissioning groups will feel they have no choice but to open services out to competition, against their wishes. Vital NHS funding will be diverted into costly tendering and legal fees, to say nothing of the profits and shareholder returns that private providers will want to extract.
We’ll be watching the government’s new guidelines closely, but the next steps for the campaign will need to be local, working with the broad coalition that has developed over the last year to counter the threat of privatisation and cuts in our health service, to help protect local services where conflicts arise. The TUC will be working more too to shine a light on the world of private healthcare providers, and producing materials and publicity to back up local and national campaigns, where companies are seeking to oust local NHS providers.
The government have taken a big risk in their determination to force through these fundamental changes to our National Health Service, and we believe it is one which will come back to bite them once they have to justify themselves to the voters again.
We’ll be doing all we can from now on, to hold them to account over these cavalier and damaging changes. Thank you for your help in lobbying Peers over this vote. We'll be back in touch again soon.
Government reforms of the NHS in England have now come into force and health leaders and campaigners warn of a tough year ahead.
GP-led groups have taken control of local budgets and a new board, NHS England, has started overseeing the day-to-day running of services. Our campaign against privatisation continues.
The UK is "woefully underprepared" for the social and economic challenges presented by an ageing society, a Lords committee has today warned.
The committee said "the gift of longer life" could well lead to "a series of crises" in public service provision.
It was stated that big changes in pensions and health care, were needed to help people "sustain a good quality of life" as they aged.
The government said supporting people in later life was a priority.
We really must keep up the pressure on the Government to ensure the older people in today's society are not overlooked and all the gains that we have achieved as the largest pensioner movement are not lost. The West Midlands Pensioners Convention will always act upon your behalf. Please attend our meetings and support us in every possible way. Your support is appreciated. Ivor Timson
More current news.
More dithering on social care funding!
The government will bring forward its overhaul of the pension system and social care funding by a year, the chancellor has announced.
George Osborne said the flat-tier pension, worth around £144 a week, would now start in 2016.
A cap on the amount the elderly pay for social care in England, which was to be £75,000 but will now be £72,000 and would start in the same year.
Further news which affects us all in the West Midlands and Shire Counties.
More than 20,000 hospital deaths could well have been prevented if warnings about high mortality rates had been acted on quickly, a government adviser has said. George Eliot Hospital at Nuneaton is amongst the ones being investigated.
Professor Sir Brian Jarman has accused ministers and officials of "ignoring data on high death rates for a decade".
Sir Brian is currently working on the government review of 14 hospital trusts with higher-than-average death rates in the aftermath of the Stafford Hospital enquiry.
The government said the enquiry report showed "failings across the system".
And more news from Brian Allbutt.
Hi Ivor
Below is some info you may want to put on the WMPC web-site.
John Lister, the Internationally respected director of the London based Health Emergency Organisation; that as been
defending the NHS since 1983, spoke at a meeting arranged by Save Our NHS West Midlands.
The meeting took place on Tuesday April 16th, Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square at 7.30p.m.
Save Our NHS West Midlands are also asking people to contact them if they feel that part of the NHS near you is already
at risk or suffering ; to contact them.
Contact details :- save our nhs-wm
c/o BTUC
45-47 Allison Street
Digbeth
Birmingham B5 7TH
Please see the attached notice for an event in Portcullis House on 24 April regarding cuts to railway staffing and the effect that this has on disabled and older passengers. We hope the new NPC president, Ron Douglas, will be among the speakers at the event. Please circulate it amongst your members and encourage them to attend if they can.
Best wishes
Neil Duncan-Jordan
National Officer
NPC
Action for Rail - Disabled and Older Passengers - 24 April 2012.pdf
356K View Download
Here is another article - from yesterday's Daily Express which Mina asked me to download and send to you.
Regards
Ian
2 attachments — Download all attachments
Fear that GPs will be led by cost in new NHS reforms.docx
176K View Download Untitled attachment 00031.htm
1K View Download
About 200 carers of elderly residents and people with learning disabilities in Coventry could lose their jobs under council proposals.
It means about a third of its planned £63m savings over three years would be in Health and Community Services.
The council said it could still help the city's "most vulnerable people".
The Unite union said industrial action would be considered if its members considered the changes "a step too far".
2013 International Women’s Day Event
Asbestos and Women’s Health
An Ongoing Health and Safety Disaster
The West Midlands Hazards Trust and Asbestos Support West Midlands invited all women to this
International Women’s Day event. Asbestos related diseases have traditionally been associated
with men, the truth is asbestos and other occupational health dangers are having a disastrous
affect on women’s health. The day examined the problem and set out what could be done. It
featured expert presentations and gave plenty of opportunities for debate and discussion.
Speakers included:
Laurie Kazan-Allen, International Ban Asbestos Secretariat
Hilda Palmer, Hazards Campaign and Families Against Corporate Killers.
Plus a rare showing of the film Alice a Fight for Life.
The event was supported and sponsored by::
Birmingham Unison, UCATT Midlands Region, PCS Midlands and the Midlands TUC
Budget News!
Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has said today’s Budget announcement was less “Aspiration Nation” and more “Aspirin Nation” given that it will have left millions of older people with a severe financial headache on issues such as pensions and social care.
On the single-tier state pension proposal Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: “There’s nothing in these proposals for today’s pensioners – so we might get a single-tier state pension, but we’ll have a two-tier pension system. This will only add insult to injury to those 5m older women who currently get nowhere near £144 a week and will be left to struggle on with the complicated means tested Pension Credit, which 1.8m people still don’t claim despite being eligible. Around 20m existing workers in the private sector will also get less under the new pension than they would under the present system as a result of scrapping the state second pension. Setting the state pension at £144 is also at least £30 less than the official poverty level and will do very little to stop future generations of older people falling into poverty. What the government is trying to sell is a plan for people to pay in for 35 years, get £144 a week and have to wait at least until 68 before they can collect it. No-one should be taken in by what is little more than a con trick.”
On the reform of social care funding Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: “Setting a lifetime cap on care costs of £72,000 will help just 10% of those needing care, whilst the majority will be left to struggle on with a third rate service. Pensioners will still be faced with means-testing, a postcode lottery of charges, a rationing of services, poor standards and having to sell their homes in order to pay for care. The government needs to be much braver and bolder if it it really going to sort out the problems – otherwise in a few years time we’ll be back again having another look at the issue. Using money saved from the state pension system simply won’t raise enough to bring about the real change that’s needed. It’s time we merged health and social care and had a truly integrated system which was funded through general taxation – like the NHS – rather than put all the responsibility on pensioners and their families.”
New articles on the budget.
Dear Sir,
Can I tell you how pleased I am with Gorge Osborne's tax changes. He has given £7.148 to people who earn five hundred thousand or so.
This is more than I get for my wife a myself for a year. They must be very bad to manage on so little.
Birmingham Pensioner.
Dear Ivor,
I hope all who voted for this Government has noticed that the door has been opened, so that in the future you will have to save for your own old age.
No help from your employer and back to the Victorian days.
Patrick Grogan
All articles are very welcome.
Delighted to include the following from our Women's Officer.
Dear Ivor,
This is a report from London on the Grandparents in Europe, project which provides care by looking after Grandchildren, Partners and own parents if they become ill. This provision currently saves the Government millions, by people who volunteer and do work for Age UK and other organisations.
Also, there are excibibitionr to push the Dignity Code and the Pensioners Parliament on the 18th- 20th June 2013.
Finally, we need more women in higher positions at Regional level and we need to push for more women to join the Pensioners Convention and the Working Party in London.
In the meantime, please take care of your neighbour and try to ensure they are well. Article soon.
Pat O'Dowd- Chair- Wolverhampton Pensioners Convention, WMPC- Women's Officer and the National Working Party.
Rally- Marchers prepare at Birmingham UK
Live and breaking news and please visit our blog-news. Members gathering for the Meeting after our March and Rally. BEDROOM TAX From April, anyone in receipt of housing benefits will have their benefit entitlement cut if they are deemed to have an extra bedroom. Although there are some exceptions depending on circumstances, many people under the age of 60 are set to be affected and will have to find upwards of £12 from their dwindling household budgets. Many of our members could well be affected. Perry Barr, Kingstanding and Oscott Pensioners Convention. Meets every third monday of the month, which is an open meeeting and takes place between 11-0am- 1-0pm. Refreshments provided and new members welcome. We meet at the Great Barr Leisure Centre. We are a caring and sociable group which includes special points of interest and day trips both local and distance. Guest speakers for all the needs of pensioners and we also help and advise on a wide range of subjects. Ken Smith- telephone 0121 624 69 Please view our latest news for the pensioner movement. Often first with breaking news both local and national |
We have proudly organised campaigns in support of the retired member and Pensioner movement. Please consider joining us or attending one of our meetings thoughout the region. You will be made very welcome.Women’s Network Exchange newsletter is now available. This edition covers topics such as how women are represented in the organisation, a report on the Women’s Committee of the Federation of Retired Persons Associations (FERPA) and an article focusing on the new TUC general secretary.
Our very precious NHS continues to dominate the news. Please view all our pages. Our campaign continues and we are being heard. The government’s obsession with forcing competition in the NHS continues despite continuing opposition from all walks of life. Huge petitions have been organised and I am pleased this organisation, very much helped in this process. NHS clinical commissioners interim president Dr Michael Dixon, who helped draft the Health and Social Care Act, expressed dismay at section 75 regulations that will force competition in the NHS and give rights to private companies. Dr Dixon warned GPs risk taking “their eye off the ball” and getting “bogged down” in whether or not they are being competitive. Dr Dixon also pointed out that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) may have to defend expensive legal claims from private companies for not having put services out to tender. “It is going to make everyone watch their back and a whole industry of people who challenge things back and forth as to whether they have been sufficiently competitive or not, and opens the window to providers to challenge the CCGs,” he said. We welcome all your local news and photos. Thanks. |
Latest on the NHS- Letter from John Wood, GoingToWork.org.uk
Dear Ivor,
After a huge public outcry forced Jeremy Hunt to withdraw and rewrite his controversial new NHS competition regulations earlier this month, the government have come back with a new suggestion to put this part of last year’s Health And Social Care Act into practice.
Please help now by writing to a member of the House of Lords. But despite the toned down wording, it still in effect will compel local commissioning groups to open most services out to private markets, even if it's against the wishes of local people. This means that it still runs counter to promises given by the government as the Act narrowly passed in the House of Lords last year.
These regulations mean our NHS services will become more fragmented, and scarce resources will be diverted into wasteful private tendering costs and legal fees.
The last parliamentary chance to change the regulations lies with Peers, as a motion has been laid to oppose the regulations. Peers can bring the scrutiny the government have been so keen to avoid, and hold the government to the broken promises they made in the House last year.
Please help us ask the Lords to support the motion and safeguard our NHS services, by writing a letter or email to a Peer now. Our Adopt A Peer tool can help you to get back in touch with the Peer you wrote to before, or you can choose to contact a different one: Contact a member of the House of Lords now
Over the past months we have supported many of our members and offered a range of advice on a number of matters. We have also supported many local campaigns in support of services, including supporting the NHS.
The last meeting of the Wolverhampton Pensioners' Convention took place on Friday 26 April at 10.30 in Wolverhampton Civic Centre. Guest speaker was Mark Drew of the Express and Star.
The May edition of Wolverhampton Pensioner was available at the meeting. If you have an event happening in May or June and would like us to mention it, please let me know as soon as possible.
Eileen Ward-Birch
Secretary
Wolverhampton Pensioners' Convention
56 Whittaker Street
Wolverhampton
WV2 2EB
07914541248
http://www.wnpc.org.uk
Forum at http://wnpc.proboards.com/index.cgi
A recent and important letter on the NHS.
Save our walk in centres and the NHS.
The Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group has announced that the future of the city's eight NHS Walk in Centres are facing the very real possibility of closure. Sadly, given the lack of transparency, accountability and citizen involvement that appears to be the case with the Birmingham Cross City Commissioning Group, any review of these eight centres is likely to favour the interests of the private sector medical providers, such as Virgin Care. Unsurprisingly, the proposed review is being carried out by Private Consultants and although the B.C.C.C.G. are committed to a 'public consultation'; the nature and extent of that consultation is far from clear.
Thousands of Brummies use these eight NHS Walk in Centres every year and many of those are from our pensioner community. Clearly we cannot rely on the Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group, created under the Coalition's Health and Social Care Act, to objectively look at the role of the eight NHS Walk in Centres.
We need to publicly campaign now to save these vital and Urgent Care Centres, by encouraging people to come forward with their own experiences of visiting these Centres. We should also lobby our Councillors and MPs and make clear our opposition to the closure of these eight centres.
There are other major concerns about the structure and function of the Birmingham Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group. Unlike other C.C.G.'s, the constitution of the Birmingham Group is extremely vague. It appears that Private Medical Providers (such as Virgin Care), will have representation on the Birmingham C.C.G, while patient/citizen representation will only be allowed on a consultative basis. For example, there has been one Patient Forum with limited opportunity for members of the public and interested groups to attend; and the outcome of this process remains a mystery.
We have to face the fact, that the top down re-organisation of the NHS, which no one voted for is now a reality. I would argue that the West Midlands Region of the NPC, and our branches, need to be demanding immediate representation on the Clinical Commissioning Groups in all areas. We also need to be constantly vigilant and pro-active in seeking to prevent the wholesale privatisation of our NHS in the West Midlands.
Saying NO to the closure of the eight NHS Walk in Centres in Birmingham, is part of that fight to protect our NHS.
Brian Allbutt- Birmingham.
The advice from the West Midlands Pensioners Convention has always been to become involved in your local CCG, in order to avoid privatisation. We have achieved some success and our involvement continues.
White Paper on Pensions
The National Pensioners Convention is opposed to the proposals within the White Paper and is currently considering the best stages of the campaign. In the meantime, you can view a detailed briefing on the issue from the NPC Home page under the heading- What does the White Paper on state pensions mean to you?
Universal Pensioner Benefits
The NPC has already started a campaign to defend universal pensioner benefits such as the winter fuel allowance and free bus pass. This is going to be a major issue at the next election and we will be seeking pledges from candidates that, if elected, they will defend these important benefits.
Sign Arthur’s Petition
The NPC is urging its supporters to sign an online petition aimed at reversing the Chancellor’s decision to freeze the age related tax allowances from April 2013. If we secure over 100,000 signatures we can organise a debate in Parliament. You can sign the petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31778.
Fuel Poverty campaign
The NPC is campaigning against the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance this year and to freeze it for the next 4 years.
Please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 653 opposing the cut.
Add your name to our petition (see Home page) by sending us your name and address or download a copy of our petition here.
End frozen pensions
For sometime the NPC has been supporting the International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP) in its campaign to ensure that all UK pensioners, wherever they live, receive an annual increase in their state pension. The ICBP has just launched a new petition to support their campaign.
Add your name to the online petition at: http://bit.ly/BritPensions
Members and supporters begin to gather for our meeting. And more news on the NHS!
NHS Direct cut jobs by half.
Over 750 NHS Direct staff could be made redundant by the end of the year following the closure of NHS call centres across the country, Unison has warned. According to the union, NHS Direct will close 24 of its 30 call centres and reduce its workforce by half from 1,500 to 750, making nurses and other health care professionals redundant. Unison described the move as "disastrous" for staff and patients, adding that it was "shocked" by the scale of cuts. Chesterfield, Derby, Hull, Mansfield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockton, Wakefield, Blackburn, Kendal, Liverpool, Nantwich, Stafford, Bedford, Chatham, Chelmsford, Southampton, Ipswich, Norwich, Bristol, Ferndown in Dorset, and Truro are all at risk of being closed down. Dr Éoin Clarke, founder of Labour Think Tank 'Labour Left', said in his blog post that the chairman of NHS Direct informed his staff of the decision via an internal email which explained the process and when the cuts would be made. Sandra Maxwell, UNISON convenor at NHS Direct, said that NHS professionals who were due to be made redundant could be utilised for the new NHS 111 service "if only the Department of Health took some decisive action". NHS Direct has not confirmed that any of it sites will close.
Over 750 NHS Direct staff could be made redundant by the end of the year following the closure of NHS call centres across the country, Unison has warned. According to the union, NHS Direct will close 24 of its 30 call centres and reduce its workforce by half from 1,500 to 750, making nurses and other health care professionals redundant. Unison described the move as "disastrous" for staff and patients, adding that it was "shocked" by the scale of cuts. Chesterfield, Derby, Hull, Mansfield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockton, Wakefield, Blackburn, Kendal, Liverpool, Nantwich, Stafford, Bedford, Chatham, Chelmsford, Southampton, Ipswich, Norwich, Bristol, Ferndown in Dorset, and Truro are all at risk of being closed down. Dr Éoin Clarke, founder of Labour Think Tank 'Labour Left', said in his blog post that the chairman of NHS Direct informed his staff of the decision via an internal email which explained the process and when the cuts would be made. Sandra Maxwell, UNISON convenor at NHS Direct, said that NHS professionals who were due to be made redundant could be utilised for the new NHS 111 service "if only the Department of Health took some decisive action". NHS Direct has not confirmed that any of it sites will close.
One of our priorities over the past months has been our precious NHS.
Dr Jacky Davis speaking at our Public meeting.
''Evidence is mounting that the NHS is providing less care for us as the £20bn 'efficiencies' - which have already saved £7bn according to Cameron but have not been ploughed back into the NHS to provide care in the community - and the latest 'redisorganistion' following the NHS Act begin to bite. Already hospitals are offering 'top-up' payments for procedures and facilities not available on the NHS. At least one insurance company is suggesting a policy to cover these top-up payments. Some PCTs are continuing to restrict patients having hip and knee replacements and cataract operations. Meanwhile more private companies are taking over our NHS and turning NHS money into profits rather than care.'' We should continue the struggle.
''Evidence is mounting that the NHS is providing less care for us as the £20bn 'efficiencies' - which have already saved £7bn according to Cameron but have not been ploughed back into the NHS to provide care in the community - and the latest 'redisorganistion' following the NHS Act begin to bite. Already hospitals are offering 'top-up' payments for procedures and facilities not available on the NHS. At least one insurance company is suggesting a policy to cover these top-up payments. Some PCTs are continuing to restrict patients having hip and knee replacements and cataract operations. Meanwhile more private companies are taking over our NHS and turning NHS money into profits rather than care.'' We should continue the struggle.
Some of our members at a recent Centro Meeting.
Views contained within this entire website are not necessarily the views of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention, delegates, members, the NPC or our supporters.
Ivor Timson- Webmaster- EC- WMPC Regional Council. ivorgtimson@gmail.com
The three day Parliament will be again held in 2013 at Blackpool.
Pensioners’ Parliament
The Tower, rock, buckets
and spades- the memory
for me of Blackpool is deckchairs!
The annual NPC Pensioners’ Parliament is widely regarded as one of the most important activities in the pensioner movement’s calendar. There is nothing else like it in the country and over the years the event has developed a number of key roles:
This year’s event will take place from 18-20 June 2013, Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Tickets are priced £6 and each delegate will be entered into a prize draw. One of the main speakers at the opening rally will be the new TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady.
The NPC’s new campaign for 2013 is entitled: Fair Care. The campaign will raise the arguments in favour of a National Care Service funded through general taxation, like the NHS. The campaign will also call for improved standards, better training and pay for care staff and the introduction of a Dignity Code to give rights to all older people in receipt of care. Sign the petition in support of the Dignity Code at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050. Full details on our Campaigns page.
- Education – enabling people to find out new information that they can then use in their campaigning
- Networking – offering the chance to get together, share ideas and build friendships
- Debate – providing a forum for people to discuss ideas and have their say
- Rally – inspiring the movement to continue its united campaign on key issues
This year’s event will take place from 18-20 June 2013, Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Tickets are priced £6 and each delegate will be entered into a prize draw. One of the main speakers at the opening rally will be the new TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady.
The NPC’s new campaign for 2013 is entitled: Fair Care. The campaign will raise the arguments in favour of a National Care Service funded through general taxation, like the NHS. The campaign will also call for improved standards, better training and pay for care staff and the introduction of a Dignity Code to give rights to all older people in receipt of care. Sign the petition in support of the Dignity Code at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050. Full details on our Campaigns page.
We aim to be constructive and informative. We will advise and respond to all requests from branches, individuals and the Media. E-mail or telephone and we will reply within 24 hours.
The West Midlands Pensioners Convention can provide you with information regarding our objectives and aims. As well as advising and supporting branches, we campaign for change. The emphasis of our site and our work generally is :
JUSTICE FOR ALL PENSIONERS
The Officers of the West Midlands Pensioners wish all Delegates, Members, New Supporters
A warm welcome to our new website.
If you are not familiar with our organisation and your first contact with us is online, we would be pleased to hear from you! We are non party political. Please e-mail.
WEST MIDLANDS PENSIONERS CONVENTION
THE VOICE OF THE REGION'S OLDER and RETIRED PERSON.
Received e-mails about the older person and abuse which I simply must include.
International Day against Elder Abuse
Stop elder abuse:
AGE calls for an EU quality framework for long-term care to
support the wellbeing and dignity of older people
“With the ageing of the population and the major social and economic reforms this
demographic change will entail, finding ways of preventing elder abuse and ensuring a
dignified life in old age will be a major challenge across the EU and needs be at the core of the
current EU active and healthy ageing policies”, highlights Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General, on the eve of the International Day against Elder Abuse on 15 June.
In the last few years, the issue of abuse and negligence against vulnerable older people has gained
importance at European and national levels. Public authorities, policy makers, care providers and end
users’ organisations are now aware that elder abuse and neglect is a serious infringement to
human rights that can no longer be tolerated, and measures must be put in place to ensure that
older persons are adequately protected and can enjoy a dignified old age even when they become
dependent on others for care and assistance.
We all know cases of older people abused and neglected, and these poor practices can be found in
all EU countries and in all care settings, at home, in the community or in institutions. Some of these
cases are examples of intentional abuse and neglect but the vast majority of them reflect just
unintentional ‘bad care’ which affect the wellbeing and dignity of older vulnerable persons. However,
many positive experiences and (real) success stories exist as well across Europe. Most of the time,
carers - both formal and informal - are very devoted and go out of their way to provide the best care
they can to the older person in need of assistance.
In our view the best way to prevent ‘bad care’ and elder abuse is by improving the quality of care and
support we provide to older people in need of care and assistance. As part of the EU funded WeDO
project, AGE and a group of partners from 12 countries, are developing a European Quality
Framework for Long-Term Care which includes quality principles and recommendations for the
implementation of these principles which are based on the European Charter of Rights and
Responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance, developed in 2010. The
European Quality Framework for Long-term care will be presented to the European Parliament in
Brussels. Please ask our Chair- Syd Ashby for further information.
More News on Housing:
Housing Minister Grant Shapps is proposing reintroduction of the hated means test and two-tier rents. This attack on the principle of council housing for all, is based on lies and hypocricy.
While Government attacks housing benefit, rents and tenancies, Council tenants are robbed, not subsidised. Government siphoned £2 billion out of our rents last year; more public money goes to subsidise mortgages than into council house building.Tenants demand one fair rent for all, and a new generation of secure and genuinely affordable council housing to create desperately needed homes. Instead the Government's proposed means test will make council housing more stigmatised and poverty-trapped.
This is part of a sustained attack on tenants' rights, forcing more into the private sector and increasing homelessness and waiting lists. Tenants, trade unions, politicians and campaigners are building the campaign at conferences over the forthcoming period.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that inequality in life expectancy for the over 65s between the least and most deprived neighbourhoods is increasing. The ONS data shows that male pensioners in more affluent areas live 4.1 years longer than their poorer counterparts, whilst for women the figure is 3.4 years.
However, the greatest difference was in the number of years spent in retirement without suffering from a disability.Men in the least deprived neighbourhoods could expect 11.8 years of retirement with-out disability - around 4.6 years longer than in the most deprived areas, whilst women in more affluent areas could expect 12 years of retirement free from disability; some 2.9 years more than those living in the poorest neighbourhoods.
Frank Cooper, NPC- said: “Politicians are constantly telling us that every-one is living longer and therefore people will have to work longer, but the reality is that increases in life expectancy are not the same as increases in healthy living.“The poorest in society are still dying younger than their richer counterparts and suffering longer periods of ill health in retirement. ''It is clear that any plans to raise the state pension age will therefore do little more than force the poorest to work until they drop''.
Urgent Save Our NHS
I have received a huge response in relation to our NHS. From calling a General Strike, a Mass March to writng to or e-mailing a Peer, I have received many ideas. At this stage the consensus seems to be another e-mail and the letter below seems to summarise the current feelings. Please also view our other articles on this urgent matter. The bill has now been debated, but the struggle for our NHS will continue. Ivor Timson
The following letter sums up the current situation, but the struggle for our NHS and services continues and our plans for any actions and the future of the NHS will be debated at our Pensioners Parliament at Blackpool- this June 18th- 20th 2013.
Dear Ivor,
We’re sorry to have to tell you, if you didn’t already know, that the government’s controversial Health and Social Care Bill has cleared both Houses of Parliament and is now likely to pass into law for England early next week.MPs have this evening voted to agree the Lords’ amendments to the Bill, turning down a Commons proposal from Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham to delay the final vote until the government published the Transitional Risk Register, outlining the dangers they expected to the NHS through these reforms.
Whilst the government will heave a collective sigh of relief having struggled over the last 18 months to get this legislation through, the negative impacts of these measures will be felt by NHS patients and health practitioners for years to come.
Some MPs who voted for the Bill will today be pointing to the limited amendments they managed to get the Health Secretary to agree to, but they’ve done nothing to change the fundamentals of the Bill, and the outcomes will be much the same with or without their changes.
This is a major blow, but for us and the other groups and organisations campaigning against the Bill, the fight for our NHS is far from over.
It’s important that we don’t let up on our opposition to what the government are doing with our Health Service. The changes, whilst highly damaging to the principles of the service, only affect England, and are reversible. We can and will restore and retain our NHS.
We need to be working now to gather information on the impact these changes are having. We need to gather the evidence to show what the cuts and reforms have done to NHS waiting lists, the quality of service non-private patients receive, and the standards for workers. And we want to gather information about the private companies who are looking to profit from our NHS.
There will be a political price for many to pay for forcing this bad Bill through Parliament, against the wishes of the majority of the public and the overwhelming majority of health professionals, and without a mandate in the parties’ manifestos or the coalition agreement.
We’re working on plans to help research, collate, log and share this vital information at the moment, to keep the issue very much in the spotlight, and will be back soon to ask for your help with this.
In the meantime though, one practical thing you could do today is to please check the voting lists to see how your own MP stood on the final debate.
If your MP voted for the Bill, please write a letter to your local paper, to help get their actions on record in their constituency. You can use our online tool to help find the larger publications in your region.
Many thanks. Please continue the campaign. Thanks.
Pensioners Deserve Better Pensions.
Energy Bill Revolution posted by the NPC on their website.
We are facing an energy bill crisis. Families are suffering huge financial hardship, and one in four households can’t afford to heat their homes. Cold homes are damaging the health of our most vulnerable citizens, including children and older people. But there is a fair and permanent solution. We can have warm homes and slash our fuel bills.
We call on the Government to use the money it gets from our carbon taxes to make our homes super-energy efficient – driving down our energy bills forever.
Please sign our petition at http://www.energybillrevolution.org and please spead the word to all your friends and family. Read the campaign briefing paper here.
And now a litle nostalgia.
The Regional Council recently organised their own Demonstration and March in the City- Birmingham. The start was from-Transport & General Workers Union House, Birmingham, to arrive in Chamberlain Square at the amphitheatre. The meeting was addressed in the pouring rain by speakers from the WMPC, the GMB Trade Union.The Fair Pensions for all and rights in retirement campaign week, was called by the National Pensioners Convention. We are currently supporting the campaigns as detailed below and on our news/campaign page, in what is likely to be a busy campaigning year during 2013. New members welcome
JUSTICE FOR ALL PENSIONERS
The Officers of the West Midlands Pensioners wish all Delegates, Members, New Supporters
A warm welcome to our new website.
If you are not familiar with our organisation and your first contact with us is online, we would be pleased to hear from you! We are non party political. Please e-mail.
WEST MIDLANDS PENSIONERS CONVENTION
THE VOICE OF THE REGION'S OLDER and RETIRED PERSON.
Received e-mails about the older person and abuse which I simply must include.
International Day against Elder Abuse
Stop elder abuse:
AGE calls for an EU quality framework for long-term care to
support the wellbeing and dignity of older people
“With the ageing of the population and the major social and economic reforms this
demographic change will entail, finding ways of preventing elder abuse and ensuring a
dignified life in old age will be a major challenge across the EU and needs be at the core of the
current EU active and healthy ageing policies”, highlights Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General, on the eve of the International Day against Elder Abuse on 15 June.
In the last few years, the issue of abuse and negligence against vulnerable older people has gained
importance at European and national levels. Public authorities, policy makers, care providers and end
users’ organisations are now aware that elder abuse and neglect is a serious infringement to
human rights that can no longer be tolerated, and measures must be put in place to ensure that
older persons are adequately protected and can enjoy a dignified old age even when they become
dependent on others for care and assistance.
We all know cases of older people abused and neglected, and these poor practices can be found in
all EU countries and in all care settings, at home, in the community or in institutions. Some of these
cases are examples of intentional abuse and neglect but the vast majority of them reflect just
unintentional ‘bad care’ which affect the wellbeing and dignity of older vulnerable persons. However,
many positive experiences and (real) success stories exist as well across Europe. Most of the time,
carers - both formal and informal - are very devoted and go out of their way to provide the best care
they can to the older person in need of assistance.
In our view the best way to prevent ‘bad care’ and elder abuse is by improving the quality of care and
support we provide to older people in need of care and assistance. As part of the EU funded WeDO
project, AGE and a group of partners from 12 countries, are developing a European Quality
Framework for Long-Term Care which includes quality principles and recommendations for the
implementation of these principles which are based on the European Charter of Rights and
Responsibilities of older people in need of long-term care and assistance, developed in 2010. The
European Quality Framework for Long-term care will be presented to the European Parliament in
Brussels. Please ask our Chair- Syd Ashby for further information.
More News on Housing:
Housing Minister Grant Shapps is proposing reintroduction of the hated means test and two-tier rents. This attack on the principle of council housing for all, is based on lies and hypocricy.
While Government attacks housing benefit, rents and tenancies, Council tenants are robbed, not subsidised. Government siphoned £2 billion out of our rents last year; more public money goes to subsidise mortgages than into council house building.Tenants demand one fair rent for all, and a new generation of secure and genuinely affordable council housing to create desperately needed homes. Instead the Government's proposed means test will make council housing more stigmatised and poverty-trapped.
This is part of a sustained attack on tenants' rights, forcing more into the private sector and increasing homelessness and waiting lists. Tenants, trade unions, politicians and campaigners are building the campaign at conferences over the forthcoming period.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that inequality in life expectancy for the over 65s between the least and most deprived neighbourhoods is increasing. The ONS data shows that male pensioners in more affluent areas live 4.1 years longer than their poorer counterparts, whilst for women the figure is 3.4 years.
However, the greatest difference was in the number of years spent in retirement without suffering from a disability.Men in the least deprived neighbourhoods could expect 11.8 years of retirement with-out disability - around 4.6 years longer than in the most deprived areas, whilst women in more affluent areas could expect 12 years of retirement free from disability; some 2.9 years more than those living in the poorest neighbourhoods.
Frank Cooper, NPC- said: “Politicians are constantly telling us that every-one is living longer and therefore people will have to work longer, but the reality is that increases in life expectancy are not the same as increases in healthy living.“The poorest in society are still dying younger than their richer counterparts and suffering longer periods of ill health in retirement. ''It is clear that any plans to raise the state pension age will therefore do little more than force the poorest to work until they drop''.
Urgent Save Our NHS
I have received a huge response in relation to our NHS. From calling a General Strike, a Mass March to writng to or e-mailing a Peer, I have received many ideas. At this stage the consensus seems to be another e-mail and the letter below seems to summarise the current feelings. Please also view our other articles on this urgent matter. The bill has now been debated, but the struggle for our NHS will continue. Ivor Timson
The following letter sums up the current situation, but the struggle for our NHS and services continues and our plans for any actions and the future of the NHS will be debated at our Pensioners Parliament at Blackpool- this June 18th- 20th 2013.
Dear Ivor,
We’re sorry to have to tell you, if you didn’t already know, that the government’s controversial Health and Social Care Bill has cleared both Houses of Parliament and is now likely to pass into law for England early next week.MPs have this evening voted to agree the Lords’ amendments to the Bill, turning down a Commons proposal from Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham to delay the final vote until the government published the Transitional Risk Register, outlining the dangers they expected to the NHS through these reforms.
Whilst the government will heave a collective sigh of relief having struggled over the last 18 months to get this legislation through, the negative impacts of these measures will be felt by NHS patients and health practitioners for years to come.
Some MPs who voted for the Bill will today be pointing to the limited amendments they managed to get the Health Secretary to agree to, but they’ve done nothing to change the fundamentals of the Bill, and the outcomes will be much the same with or without their changes.
This is a major blow, but for us and the other groups and organisations campaigning against the Bill, the fight for our NHS is far from over.
It’s important that we don’t let up on our opposition to what the government are doing with our Health Service. The changes, whilst highly damaging to the principles of the service, only affect England, and are reversible. We can and will restore and retain our NHS.
We need to be working now to gather information on the impact these changes are having. We need to gather the evidence to show what the cuts and reforms have done to NHS waiting lists, the quality of service non-private patients receive, and the standards for workers. And we want to gather information about the private companies who are looking to profit from our NHS.
There will be a political price for many to pay for forcing this bad Bill through Parliament, against the wishes of the majority of the public and the overwhelming majority of health professionals, and without a mandate in the parties’ manifestos or the coalition agreement.
We’re working on plans to help research, collate, log and share this vital information at the moment, to keep the issue very much in the spotlight, and will be back soon to ask for your help with this.
In the meantime though, one practical thing you could do today is to please check the voting lists to see how your own MP stood on the final debate.
If your MP voted for the Bill, please write a letter to your local paper, to help get their actions on record in their constituency. You can use our online tool to help find the larger publications in your region.
Many thanks. Please continue the campaign. Thanks.
Pensioners Deserve Better Pensions.
Energy Bill Revolution posted by the NPC on their website.
We are facing an energy bill crisis. Families are suffering huge financial hardship, and one in four households can’t afford to heat their homes. Cold homes are damaging the health of our most vulnerable citizens, including children and older people. But there is a fair and permanent solution. We can have warm homes and slash our fuel bills.
We call on the Government to use the money it gets from our carbon taxes to make our homes super-energy efficient – driving down our energy bills forever.
Please sign our petition at http://www.energybillrevolution.org and please spead the word to all your friends and family. Read the campaign briefing paper here.
And now a litle nostalgia.
The Regional Council recently organised their own Demonstration and March in the City- Birmingham. The start was from-Transport & General Workers Union House, Birmingham, to arrive in Chamberlain Square at the amphitheatre. The meeting was addressed in the pouring rain by speakers from the WMPC, the GMB Trade Union.The Fair Pensions for all and rights in retirement campaign week, was called by the National Pensioners Convention. We are currently supporting the campaigns as detailed below and on our news/campaign page, in what is likely to be a busy campaigning year during 2013. New members welcome
TUC Birmingham Pensions Justice Day
Marchers assembled at Lionel Street- a march route ending at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham. The highly successful and determined Birmingham March soon began in earnest and the demonstration commenced it's journey to the NIA. The largest strike since 1926!
The Rally at the National Indoor Arena was packed with strikers and supporters.
Speakers included:
CHAIR: Lee Barron, CWU Midlands Regional Secretary & Midlands TUC Chair
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary
Kevin Courtney, NUT Deputy General Secretary
Janice Godrich, PCS President
Karen Jennings, Unison Assistant General Secretary
Martin Johnson, ATL Deputy General Secretary
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary
Barry Lovejoy, UCU Head of Further Education
Joe Morgan, GMB West Midlands Regional Secretary
Tony Woodley, UNITE Executive Officer
A wonderful display of solidarity ensued over the region and indeed the country. Tens of thousands took to the streets in Birmingham, as many also attended picket lines and the many local rallies. People of all ages joined this mass display of strength in support of pensions justice. Almost every public sector union took part in this co-ordinated action called by the TUC. Pickets were out in force at most larger council and civil service buildings, with earlier pickets at refuse collection depots and other locations.They enjoyed huge public support.
Some of our members on the Birmingham March- November 30th 2011. Picture taken by Chris Smith- Regional Secretary- WMPC.
Tens of thousands of people have also joined rallies around the UK as the public sector strike over pensions affected schools, hospitals and other services.
State schools shut, and thousands of hospital operations were postponed, as unions estimated over two million people went on strike.
The TUC called it "the biggest strike in a generation" A day to be remembered!
Some of these photographs were sent in by Keith Coggins and taken by Chris Smith and Chris Jukes. Thanks to Chris Smith, and Chris Jukes for their photographic skills, which are deeply appreciated. Thanks again! I have included six more photographs on our campaigns page. What a great day which was certainly no 'damp squib'.
State schools shut, and thousands of hospital operations were postponed, as unions estimated over two million people went on strike.
The TUC called it "the biggest strike in a generation" A day to be remembered!
Some of these photographs were sent in by Keith Coggins and taken by Chris Smith and Chris Jukes. Thanks to Chris Smith, and Chris Jukes for their photographic skills, which are deeply appreciated. Thanks again! I have included six more photographs on our campaigns page. What a great day which was certainly no 'damp squib'.
The West Midlands Pensioners Convention - gratefully acknowledges support from the Big Lottery Fund.
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk
BBC Question Time Campaign
For over two years, the NPC has been campaigning to secure a slot on the BBC’s flagship political programme, Question Time. Our argument remains a simple one: Britain’s biggest and most representative pensioners’ organisation should have the opportunity to appear on Question Time, so that we can express the views and concerns of millions of older people. Over the last few months, we have been leafleting the audience as they go into the programme, as it travels around the country. This will continue.
Peter Cardwell Senior producer pcardwell@mentorn.tv
Nicolai Gentchev BBC Editor nicolai.gentchev@bbc.co.uk.
It is vital that we therefore increase the pressure on the BBC to invite the NPC onto the programme, and we are asking supporters to send courteous requests to the above e-mail addresses. Thanks.
Rights in Retirement Campaign Week
The National Pensioners Convention called a week of action as part of the ongoing campaign for three basic rights in retirement: It remains ongoing in 2013.
During the weeks ahead, groups and supporters participated in the following:
Fair Pensions For All
The NPC is supporting a joint petition with the ATL, NUT, PCS and UCU trade unions which calls for decent state and occupational pensions for all.
Winter Fuel Allowance
The NPC is campaigning against the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance this year and to freeze it for the next 4 years.
Please ask your MP to oppose these cuts.
Add your name to our petition, by sending us your name and address.
Retail Price Index / Consumer Price Index
The NPC has consistently opposed the government’s plans to alter the way in which the state and occupational pensions are indexed – by using the lower Consumer Price Index, rather than the customary Retail Price Index.
Add your name to the petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1535
Dignity Code
The NPC has created a dignity code to uphold the rights and maintain the personal dignity of older people, within the context of ensuring the health, safety and well being of those who are increasingly less able to care for themselves or to properly conduct their affairs. We have asked a number of professional health bodies, regulators and charities if they will sign up to the code, which we will then present to government. The NPC’s Dignity Code was “strongly endorsed” by Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care at a meeting of many pensioners and trade unionists, during our recent campaign. After our representations, the Government now seems partially committed to the code. Perhaps another campaign success.
New care minister, Norman Lamb MP has now added his name to the growing list of signatories backing the NPC’s Dignity Code. Following a recent meeting with the minister, the NPC is now discussing with the Department of Health how to distribute the Code across every hospital, GP surgery and care home. Already many local authorities have signed up to the Code, alongside a number of MPs, care providers, regulators, academics and charities. You can see the latest list here. You can also support the campaign by writing to your local council and MP and asking them to add their names. Take action today. November 2012.
Withdrawal of half price coach concession
The government is scrapping the fuel duty rebate given to coach operating companies in return for them offering a 50% discount on fares for older and disabled travellers.
Please add your name to the online petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15235
Save Our Buses
The NPC is a member of the Campaign for Better Transport, which is currently running a Save Our Buses campaign to make the case for buses to government and to support bus users to defend their local services.
It is vital that we make this week our priority in order to protect our very precious services such as the National Health Service and our carer services. Just redesigned the site, so please let me know about any mistakes and please do not hesitate to send articles or information to add to the site. It is your site. Finally, the following may be of interest to us all, but please see the NPC site for further details and please do not forget to regularly visit our Blog / News page. Thanks.
Parliamentary Support Group
Early in 2011 the NPC set up a Parliamentary Support Group of cross-party politicians to support the work of the NPC. The group is convened by Luton North MP, Kelvin Hopkins. The group meets quarterly and is open to any MP to join.
The next meeting will take place over the next few months, 3pm, Room Q, Portcullis House and will be addressed by Andrew Dilnot, chair of the commission into the future funding of care. Please ask your MP if they wish to get involved.
We intend to persue a variety of campaigns in 2013, including the one relating to the BBC as explained above. All content has been provided by pensioners - affiliated organisations -Branches -TUC and other organisations etc. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention or any of its membership. Please see our new, news- campaign, articles- debate and our blog/news pages for further details and information. And e-mail if you need further advice. Also, consider asking for details, information and joining us
http://www.awardsforall.org.uk
BBC Question Time Campaign
For over two years, the NPC has been campaigning to secure a slot on the BBC’s flagship political programme, Question Time. Our argument remains a simple one: Britain’s biggest and most representative pensioners’ organisation should have the opportunity to appear on Question Time, so that we can express the views and concerns of millions of older people. Over the last few months, we have been leafleting the audience as they go into the programme, as it travels around the country. This will continue.
- In the meantime, please continue to send requests for a representative of the NPC to appear on the programme to:
Peter Cardwell Senior producer pcardwell@mentorn.tv
Nicolai Gentchev BBC Editor nicolai.gentchev@bbc.co.uk.
It is vital that we therefore increase the pressure on the BBC to invite the NPC onto the programme, and we are asking supporters to send courteous requests to the above e-mail addresses. Thanks.
Rights in Retirement Campaign Week
The National Pensioners Convention called a week of action as part of the ongoing campaign for three basic rights in retirement: It remains ongoing in 2013.
- A decent state pension that takes everyone out of poverty
- Proper care in the NHS or the community for those in need, paid for through general taxation
- A warm home with financial assistance towards fuel costs
During the weeks ahead, groups and supporters participated in the following:
- Protesting outside the Royal Courts of Justice to support RPI/CPI legal challenge
- Joining the national rally/lobby of Parliament House of Commons.
- Attending the Decent Care for All march/rally Sutton High Street (by Wetherspoons).
- This is an ongoing campaign.
Fair Pensions For All
The NPC is supporting a joint petition with the ATL, NUT, PCS and UCU trade unions which calls for decent state and occupational pensions for all.
Winter Fuel Allowance
The NPC is campaigning against the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance this year and to freeze it for the next 4 years.
Please ask your MP to oppose these cuts.
Add your name to our petition, by sending us your name and address.
Retail Price Index / Consumer Price Index
The NPC has consistently opposed the government’s plans to alter the way in which the state and occupational pensions are indexed – by using the lower Consumer Price Index, rather than the customary Retail Price Index.
Add your name to the petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1535
Dignity Code
The NPC has created a dignity code to uphold the rights and maintain the personal dignity of older people, within the context of ensuring the health, safety and well being of those who are increasingly less able to care for themselves or to properly conduct their affairs. We have asked a number of professional health bodies, regulators and charities if they will sign up to the code, which we will then present to government. The NPC’s Dignity Code was “strongly endorsed” by Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care at a meeting of many pensioners and trade unionists, during our recent campaign. After our representations, the Government now seems partially committed to the code. Perhaps another campaign success.
New care minister, Norman Lamb MP has now added his name to the growing list of signatories backing the NPC’s Dignity Code. Following a recent meeting with the minister, the NPC is now discussing with the Department of Health how to distribute the Code across every hospital, GP surgery and care home. Already many local authorities have signed up to the Code, alongside a number of MPs, care providers, regulators, academics and charities. You can see the latest list here. You can also support the campaign by writing to your local council and MP and asking them to add their names. Take action today. November 2012.
Withdrawal of half price coach concession
The government is scrapping the fuel duty rebate given to coach operating companies in return for them offering a 50% discount on fares for older and disabled travellers.
Please add your name to the online petition:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15235
Save Our Buses
The NPC is a member of the Campaign for Better Transport, which is currently running a Save Our Buses campaign to make the case for buses to government and to support bus users to defend their local services.
It is vital that we make this week our priority in order to protect our very precious services such as the National Health Service and our carer services. Just redesigned the site, so please let me know about any mistakes and please do not hesitate to send articles or information to add to the site. It is your site. Finally, the following may be of interest to us all, but please see the NPC site for further details and please do not forget to regularly visit our Blog / News page. Thanks.
Parliamentary Support Group
Early in 2011 the NPC set up a Parliamentary Support Group of cross-party politicians to support the work of the NPC. The group is convened by Luton North MP, Kelvin Hopkins. The group meets quarterly and is open to any MP to join.
The next meeting will take place over the next few months, 3pm, Room Q, Portcullis House and will be addressed by Andrew Dilnot, chair of the commission into the future funding of care. Please ask your MP if they wish to get involved.
We intend to persue a variety of campaigns in 2013, including the one relating to the BBC as explained above. All content has been provided by pensioners - affiliated organisations -Branches -TUC and other organisations etc. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention or any of its membership. Please see our new, news- campaign, articles- debate and our blog/news pages for further details and information. And e-mail if you need further advice. Also, consider asking for details, information and joining us
Our tasks in 2013 are numerous, but again a little reflective nostalgia helps.
We campaign for change!
A few photographs to capture the determined and fun mood of the Rally.Taken by Chris Smith
March and Rally at Birmingham and organised by ourselves.
Joe Morgan (GMB Regional Secretary) with the GMB Placard- taken just prior to addressing the Rally.
We gathered in Birmingham City Centre to march from Transport House in Broad street to a rally at Chamberlain Square, where Peter Last from Walsall Pensioners Convention, Christopher Smith, Secretary of the West Midlands Pensioners Convention and Joe Morgan Regional Secretary from the GMB spoke.
Over 100 pensioners were joined by a dozen plus supporters of all ages to protest against the coalition governments policies which are hurting pensioners very badly.
Peter Last talked on a range of issues for pensioners, from the NHS reform bill, which threatens to allow private companies to play a much larger role in the provision of health care, and removes the duty of the secretary of state to provide healthcare, to cuts in the winter fuel allowance, and changes in pensions from RPI to CPI, which are causing pensions to rise more slowly than prices.
Every winter, 35,000 elderly people die from cold related illnesses. This winter, with the combination of hikes in fuel prices, and cuts of £50 in the winter fuel allowance for elderly people, many pensioners will find themselves unable to afford to pay for heating. At the same time, the coalition government has changed the way pensions work so that they are increased at the CPI rate, rather than RPI. CPI is always lower than RPI. Peter said that the government used “words of mass deception” and warned of deaths over this winter.
Joe Morgan also spoke about the change from RPI to CPI to calculate inflation, and reminded people that two years ago Lorely Burt (Lib Dem MP for Solihull) and Philip Hammond (Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield) had made promises to pensioners to ensure that they were treated fairly.
He also spoke of the upcoming pension strike on November 30th, and how it is important for current pensioners to support the younger generations whose pensions are being attacked, as these are the pensioners of tomorrow.
Christopher Smith spoke of the threat to the markets due to a withdrawal of funding promises from Birmingham City Council. He explained that the wholesale markets and big business cover an area of many miles, supplying huge amounts of food to the city.
The March was very lively with banners, placards and horns gaining huge support and attention from the general public as it passed down Broad Street. The pouring rain did not seem to dampen spirits and a determination was shown to deliver our message for dignity, and fulfilment in retirement. The March was in support of the National Pensioners Convention week of action - Rights in Retirement Campaign!
Please view our other pages and consider joining us.
Over 100 pensioners were joined by a dozen plus supporters of all ages to protest against the coalition governments policies which are hurting pensioners very badly.
Peter Last talked on a range of issues for pensioners, from the NHS reform bill, which threatens to allow private companies to play a much larger role in the provision of health care, and removes the duty of the secretary of state to provide healthcare, to cuts in the winter fuel allowance, and changes in pensions from RPI to CPI, which are causing pensions to rise more slowly than prices.
Every winter, 35,000 elderly people die from cold related illnesses. This winter, with the combination of hikes in fuel prices, and cuts of £50 in the winter fuel allowance for elderly people, many pensioners will find themselves unable to afford to pay for heating. At the same time, the coalition government has changed the way pensions work so that they are increased at the CPI rate, rather than RPI. CPI is always lower than RPI. Peter said that the government used “words of mass deception” and warned of deaths over this winter.
Joe Morgan also spoke about the change from RPI to CPI to calculate inflation, and reminded people that two years ago Lorely Burt (Lib Dem MP for Solihull) and Philip Hammond (Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield) had made promises to pensioners to ensure that they were treated fairly.
He also spoke of the upcoming pension strike on November 30th, and how it is important for current pensioners to support the younger generations whose pensions are being attacked, as these are the pensioners of tomorrow.
Christopher Smith spoke of the threat to the markets due to a withdrawal of funding promises from Birmingham City Council. He explained that the wholesale markets and big business cover an area of many miles, supplying huge amounts of food to the city.
The March was very lively with banners, placards and horns gaining huge support and attention from the general public as it passed down Broad Street. The pouring rain did not seem to dampen spirits and a determination was shown to deliver our message for dignity, and fulfilment in retirement. The March was in support of the National Pensioners Convention week of action - Rights in Retirement Campaign!
Please view our other pages and consider joining us.
© 2013 WMPC
West Midlands Pensioners Convention, UK