The following article has been published on the main ASLEF website.

www.aslef.org.uk

NPC National State Pension Campaign

In today’s Britain, with the fourth strongest economy in the world, at 2.5m older people are living below the poverty line, whilst millions more struggle to pay their rising fuel bills and council tax.

The National Pensioners Convention, Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, is mounting a national campaign during 2006 to improve the state pension by calling for:

* A basic state pension of at least £114 a week
* A restoration of the link between pensions and average earnings
* Payment to be made equally to all retired men and women

As part of this campaign, the Convention ran a successful Pensions Action Week at the beginning on March and plans to follow it up with the following activities:

* Special activities at the annual Pensioners Parliament in May
* A visible participation at national trade union conferences throughout the year
* Six regional rallies and events during the year
* Meetings and demonstration at the TUC Congress in September
* National lobby of Parliament in November

Alongside this programme the Convention will also produce a range of campaign material for use amongst both working and retired trade union members.

What we need from you is a commitment to support the campaign in whatever way you can, such as:

* Raising this issue at you next branch meeting and ensuring your branch is affiliated to the NPC
* Getting involved in your local or regional NPC organisation
* Ordering campaign materials from the NPC to use amongst your colleagues, friends and neighbours
* Attending the national Pensioners Parliament, 16-18th May, Winter Gardens, Blackpool
* Making an annual donation to the NPC of £1 or more by completing the direct debit form