Call to end discrimination in pension survivor benefits
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ Union today highlighted the discrimination faced by same sex married couples and civil partners with regard to their survivor pension benefits.
NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates said: “Discrimination against lesbian and gay people is unacceptable full stop. It can never be justified.
“It is shameful that the pension benefits for same sex married couples and civil partners was backdated only to 1988 and not 1972 as is the case for widows.
“The NASUWT is calling on the Treasury to equalise benefits to those enjoyed by widows.”
Speaking in a debate on the issue at the TUC Congress in Brighton, NASUWT Deputy General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“The NASUWT believes that full equalisation is needed and in the case of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme we are lobbying to end this discrimination.
“The Government’s ongoing intransigence on the issue of survivor benefits is strongly in evidence.
“Let us send a clear message that equal rights for all are not negotiable. Let us work together to end the scourge of state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBT workers.”
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