SIPTU Mayo District Council to host ‘Stop67’ seminar in Castlebar on 26th February

SIPTU Mayo District Council will host a seminar on the Stop67 Campaign to prevent the increase of the state pension age, at 7.00 p.m. in Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar on Wednesday, 26th February. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, said: “Stop67 is the SIPTU led campaign to halt the increase of the state pension age to 67 on 1st January, 2021. “We have been hearing from our members since the abolition of the transitional pension scheme in 2014 about the difficulties that the retirement gap has been causing for workers. This includes the absolute indignity of people coming up to 65 years of age who are expecting to get their pension and having to sign on the dole.” SIPTU Researcher, Michael Taft, said: “Talk of a future pensions timebomb is a myth.  Ireland has the youngest population in Europe and one of the highest pension ages. There is no doubt that in the future we will have to increase resources to pay for pensions.  The problem we have is that the scaremongering that is used is actually limiting the ability to have an evidence-based debate on this issue.” Mayo District Council chair, Dave Breen, said: “This campaign made the political parties sit up and take stock during the election campaign. However, this issue is not going away post-election, and we will continue to vigorously campaign on it.” SIPTU Mayo District Council Co-ordinator, Pat Flannery, said: “The Stop67 Campaign will continue until our objectives have been achieved. These are the repeal of the section of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act which provides for an increase in the state pension age to 67 on 1st January 2021 and the establishment of a stakeholder’s forum to engage in social dialogue on all issues relating to pensions and retirement.” The SIPTU ‘Stop67’ Campaign is supported by a coalition of organisations, including the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Age Action and Active Retirement Ireland