ST HELENS TUC and St Helens TUC Resource Centre, along with a group of local pensioners, have called a public meeting to form the St Helens Pensioners Action Group.

This will be held on Monday, November 10 at 2pm, in the St Helens TUC Resource Centre, 21-31 Barrow Street. Speakers will include former Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Alex Worth; Jimmy Dowd, retired secretary of Bold NUM; and Glenn Voris, secretary of St Helens TUC.

Jimmy Dowd says: "Our aim is to campaign to increase the living standards of all pensioners broadly in line with those in the more progressive countries in Europe. Our biggest concern is to restore the link between the increases in basic pensions and average earnings.

"In 1980 the Tories changed this link to pensions to the rate of inflation. As a result, pensioners have lost £20 per week for a single pension and £30 per week for a couple. We are demanding that the Labour Party puts its words into action to give all pensioners a living income to retire with dignity."

St Helens TUC fully supports the setting-up of an active and campaigning pensioners group and secretary Glenn Voris says: "Pensioners have had enough of being treated as second-class citizens. The trade unions have always been at the forefront in fighting for improved living standards. This is why we have called for this meeting.

"We are very disturbed by rumours that the Labour Party is thinking about replacing all state pensions with private pensions. Pensioners, trade unionists and all sections of society must reject these proposals. We are calling upon all our senior citizens to attend the meeting to fight for a better future."

FOR further details ring the St Helens TUC Resource Centre on (01744) 755889.

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