Hands off our pension
Talking points for letter and online comments
Here are some points that you may want to incorporate. Try and keep your letter or comments under 100 words, Include a phone number for "letters to the editor" so the newspaper can verify your identity before publication.
On federal public sector pensions:
- Federal public sector employees work hard for and make significant contributions to their pension plan.
- Cuts to public sector pensions would harm communities and the Canadian economy.
- Federal government employees are the main contributors to their pension plan. They contribute more than 10 cents of each dollar earned to both the Federal Public Service Pension Plan and the Canada/Quebec Pension Plan.
- The pension benefits paid to public sector workers are deferred salary. Over the years, these workers have forgone salary increases in exchange for pension security. Pensions are not a gift. They are part of public sector workers’ overall compensation.
- The average annual pension received by retired federal public sector workers in 2009 was $24,506. Contrary to media reports, few public sector workers retire at age 55 on a full pension. This only applies to the very few people who have worked in the federal public service for 30 or more years, having started when they were very young.
- The federal public sector pension plan is viable and well-funded. The viability of the pension plan is not in question. The latest report from the Chief Actuary of Canada tabled in Parliament in November 2009 stated that the Federal Public Service Pension Plan is adequately funded and is running a surplus, due in part to the large contribution by employees.
On retirement security for everyone:
- This should not be a race to the bottom. Everyone deserves the right to retire with dignity
- As the current economic crisis has shown us, RRSPs are too risky. They leave people vulnerable to the fluctuations of the market.
- That’s why I support the Canadian Labour Congress’ Retirement Security for All Campaign, which aims to increase retirement benefits for everyone
PSAC’s demands:
- Introduce concrete measures to safeguard federal public service pension plans.
- Introduce specific measures to safeguard all defined benefit pension plans.
- Improve retirement security for all Canadians by doubling Quebec-Canada Pension Plan benefits and immediately increasing Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement for all retirees.
Date Modified : 2010/06/09
