Former aviation workers protest over ‘diminishing value’ of State pensions

HUNDREDS of former aviation workers protested outside the Dáil yesterday, calling for their State pensions to be increased to match those of other public-sector retirees.

The men and women, who formerly worked with Aer Rianta (now the Dublin Airport Authority) and Aer Lingus, marched from the Spire on O’Connell Street to the gates of Leinster House with letters for the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Ministers for Finance and Transport.

They say that the diminishing value of their pensions is having a detrimental effect on their lives.

“We have to march because we are concerned about our futures and our ability to live on dwindling funds,” said Mairéad Hayes, chairman of the Retired Aviation Staff Association (RASA), which represents 7,000 pensioners in total.

“Unlike other public sector employees, we do not have pay-related increases to our pensions, and, as a result, the relative value of our pensions has fallen by 50% since 1990.”

The members say that, prior to 1969, their pensions were on a par with other sections of the civil service. However, that year, the government introduced changes to the scheme.

The result is that their scheme, known as the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme, does not provide for automatic pension increases in line with salary movements or the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The practice by trustees of the scheme has been to grant increases in line with the CPI, but these rises are not guaranteed, depending very much on the performance of the pension fund.

The RASA wants the Government to amend the scheme and guarantee them pay-related increases.

When asked about the matter by Green Party TD Dan Boyle earlier this year, Transport Minister Martin Cullen said the scheme was a multi-party one, which created difficulties.

“(It) is a multi-employer scheme which, in addition to Aer Lingus and DAA staff, also includes a private sector company, SR Technics (formerly FLS Aerospace),” Mr Cullen said.

“A key issue is that the scheme cannot be amended without the consent of all participating employers and a majority of members. This means that no employer is in a position to negotiate exclusively with its employees as to their pension entitlements.

“Despite detailed examination, there has been no obvious solution to the RASA concerns.”