Say NO to retirement at 67 – We wont pay for their crisis
SP Newsletter No.271
The Rudd Government’s announcement that the official retirement age will be progressively raised from 65 to 67 years may have, initially, past many by. Tucked away with the glossy budget announcements, Wayne Swan could have literally mumbled the words for all the prominence it was given from the Government.
While the changes will not come into effect until 2017, the increase represents the age at which people will be able to access the aged pension. This, along with as yet unannounced changes to the pension income test, is expected to save the Government billions of dollars.
It is of course partly through such savings that the Government hopes to make a dent in the largest budget deficit in Australia’s history. The budget deficit, largely due to the global financial economic crisis is clearly expected to be paid for by working class people through an extra two years of work. Not only will the Government receive an extra two years of taxes but also a delay in people applying for the pension.
The much anticipated and hard fought for weekly increase in the aged pension itself by $32 for singles and $10 for couples will also be boosted by the money saved through these measures. Not discounting the fact that these increases only just push the aged pension above the official poverty line, the Rudd Government is taking a lot with one hand and giving a little with another.
They state that due to the increase in life expectancy it is natural that the retirement age also rises. What they fail to recognize however, is that many workers, particularly those in manual labour will not be physically capable of continuing to work till 67, increased life expectancy or not.
There is also the issue to job availability to older Australians in the event that they lose their jobs. There is significant evidence that shows that even in white collar jobs people 40 years and over find it more difficult to gain employment based on their age. This is compounded by the increase in job losses in the manufacturing sector over the last 15 years in Australia.
The Rudd Government has also not ruled out any of the recommendations made in the Henry Review. One such recommendation is that workers, while being unable to access the aged pension, should also be denied access to their superannuation until this age to make sure they are working longer! In effect they would be denying workers of their right to access their own hard worked for money.
Two unions, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), have come out opposing the Government’s moves. They have vowed to fight the new reforms and to support the right for their members to retire and access the pension if required at 65.
This is a good start but words need to be put into action. It is vital that all trade unions are united in fighting this counter reform through a strong campaign that includes industrial action and mass rallies.
Upcoming SP meetings
The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. Upcoming meetings include:
22/7/09 – Activist workshop: Public speaking skills
29/7/09 – The Paris Commune: Lessons for today
5/8/09 – CWI world school report
12/8/09 – The Stonewall riots: The birth of the gay rights movement
For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
News links:
USA: 75th Anniversary of the “Teamster Rebellion” — When Workers Shut Down Minneapolis
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article20.php?id=1124
Middle East: Egyptian strikes and Iranian mass movement show way forward for masses
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/07/1503.html
Europe: Euro elections 2009
http://www.socialismtoday.org/130/europe.html
Join the Socialist Party
If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.
We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!
Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.
Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
http://www.sp.org.au
http://www.socialistworld.net
http://www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20461960776
