03) RALLIES PROTEST CUTS TO ALBERTA PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS

 

By Doug Meggison with files from Naomi Rankin and Corinne Benson

 

            The first day of spring roared in like a lion all over Alberta, but frontline public employees braved the cold to protest cuts to provincial public pension plans.

 

            The abrupt resignation of the Progressive Conservative premier, Alison Redford, will likely not affect the basic outline of the austerity agenda the neoliberal government is trying to implement.

 

            Hundreds of workers gathered with union flags outside workplaces like the University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton City Hall and Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. Demonstrations took place in about 30 locations.

 

            The Alberta Federation of Labour has brought together a dozen unions under the Alberta Labour Coalition on Pensions, and has produced dynamic campaign materials including a website, FaceBook page and their own actuarial study to counter the unsupported pronouncements coming from the provincial government.

 

            Three main changes are in store for the public pension plans. Government is moving to increase the "85 factor" to 90 years of service plus age for unreduced pension. The penalty for earlier retirement than age 65 or reaching the 90 factor will be increased from about 3% a year to 5% a year of early retirement. Indexing to inflation will remain at 60% but keeping up at this rate will not be guaranteed.

 

            The Coalition on Pensions has had electronic town hall meetings and a 2,000 attendance outdoor demonstration on a frigid March 2.

 

            "Nobody voted on these cuts," Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan said on behalf of the Coalition. "By breaking the promise it made to frontline public employees, the Redford Government is sending the message that no one can trust the agreements it makes."

 

(The above article is from the April 1-15, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)