Important Public Service Pension Update
AUPE is advising all members who are part of the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) that the union has no involvement in recent focus groups that have been conducted regarding the plan.
Members informed AUPE that the focus groups have primarily discussed the reduction of benefits from the pension plan. This narrow type of consultation is typically used to create the illusion of consensus about a controversial topic.
AUPE has advised all members of the Public Service Pension Board that the union will give no weight to findings arising from such biased research. As AUPE holds 50% of the seats on the board, no benefit reduction can currently be implemented without AUPE approval. Obviously, your union does not support a reduction in pension benefits.
An attack on plan benefits could only occur if it was legislated by the Minister of Finance. AUPE’s consistent position is that the Public Service Pension Plan is an important benefit to our members that we will defend vigorously.
We share members’ concern with recent increases to contribution rates, and continue to work on solutions to decrease the short-term costs to members who belong to the plan, while maintaining the long-term benefits of the plan. It is possible to achieve both goals, and AUPE continues to advocate for solutions to do so.