My Ref: MRP1/8/21 7th November 2013
Circular No.NP/ 311 /13
To the Secretary:
All Rail Branches and Regional Councils
Dear Colleague,
PENSION ARRANGEMENTS – JARVIS UPDATE
I refer to my previous Circular NP/044/13, 18th February 2013, as reported the RMT have continued to campaign for justice for those ex-Jarvis workers who have found their Railways Pension Scheme (RPS) benefits reduced as a result of the Jarvis Fastline and Relayfast Pension Schemes being placed in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).
This also applies to the Jarvis Facilities Pension Scheme which is still in the administration period of the PPF but members’ benefits are scaled back while being assessed.
I and members of our Parliamentary Group met with the Government’s Pension Minister earlier this year and it was agreed that the pension compensation being offered to ex-Jarvis workers would be discussed with senior Civil Servants at the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).
A meeting took place in late August 2013 and following discussions it was requested that RMT correspondence with Government officials was passed on to the DWP for further investigation. At the time of writing there has been no further response from the DWP.
As reported the RMT through our Parliamentary Group continue to place pressure on the Government to fully compensate ex-Jarvis workers in line with the promises which were made prior to the privatisation of railways.
An amendment tabled by the RMT Parliamentary Group to the Pensions Bill 2013 was debated in Parliament on 29th October 2013. The amendment calls on the Government to fully protect employees pension benefits in the event that a railway employer becomes insolvent and that the effect of the amendment would be backdated to benefit former Jarvis employees.
A lengthy debate took place where the Government showed hostility towards this amendment. Unfortunately once again due to parliamentary time the amendment was not voted on.
While disappointing the RMT will not allow this setback to stop us from carrying on the fight for all ex-Jarvis employees. Our amendment will now be progressed through the House of Lords.
I will keep you informed of developments.
Yours sincerely,
B. Crow,
General Secretary