RMA News
Autumn the season of change has arrived, but little has changed as we are still lobbying for pension restoration and the repeal of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act.
Through our membership of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants we have been busy on your behalf during the past few months. Officers of the Alliance met with
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe in July and the current situation is as follows;
Pre March 2012 Retires
No change to the timetable for the removal of Public Servants Pension Reduction (PSPR).
Everyone with a pension below €34132 will, from January 2018 will be exempt from PSPR, that is 80% of all Public Servants.
Parity with serving peers is retained for the lifetime of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA).
No timetable for the removal of PSPR on pensions over €34132.
Post February 2012
The injustice of having pension based on reduced salary has been recognised, will receive pension increases in line with the pay increases received by their serving peers.
Low Paid PS Pensioners
Low paid public sector pensioners will gain under parity. Any increase applied to their serving peer will apply to them.
So far this term, branch meetings have taken place in Galway, Cork, Carlow, Louth, The Midlands, The South East, Wicklow and Meath. I would remind members that our constitution allows a member to participate in whichever branch is nearest to them. This time of the year is also time for Branch AGMs. Branch Officers should note that they should update us when there are changes, and perhaps should take a look at the constitution on the website regarding requirements. If funding is required from the RMA, the Branch Treasurer should submit a statement of expenditure for the year. This should be submitted in any event after the Branch AGM.
The membership of the RMA is constantly changing. Each year, members pass, others forget to renew, but of course we get new blood too, this year over 40 new members have joined already, but we knew that there are many more out there. On behalf of the RMA Officers and Management Committee, I want to thank the President, Vice-President, General Secretary and the TUI Area Representatives for their work in encouraging retirees to join the RMA, and their help in encouraging Branches to fund the first year’s subscription for new RMA members.
As I write this I am looking forward to welcoming my RMA colleagues and friends to the Boyne Valley Hotel for our autumn break. On March 20th, 21st and 22nd 2017 we are heading to the South West for our spring break in the Celtic Ross Hotel Rosscarbery Co. Cork, more details in our next issue. Details will be here on our website shortly.