A REDDITCH woman angry that women born in the 1950s are thousands of pounds worse off due to State pension changes, joined hundreds of others in a protest for fair treatment this week.
Judy Phillips, from Church Hill, joined women from as far off as Scotland and Devon to support the WASPI, (Women Against State Pension Inequality) group as they picketed the Conservative Part Conference in Birmingham on Tuesday (October 4), blowing whistles, singing chants and calling for a fair deal.
Shortly after retiring this year, Mrs Phillips joined the pressure group WASPI, whose aim is to achieve fair transitional state pension arrangements for the thousands of women born in the 1950s who are now having to wait longer for their pensions.
The feisty group marched from New Street Station to Victoria Square where they met more members, and then went on to the conference centre.
Mrs Phillips said: “Ladies born in the 1950s have been treated appallingly. We only received 18 months notice that our pension age would change.
“How do they expect these ladies to make up the shortfall?
“A pension is not a privilege, it is an entitlement and yet millions of women born in the 1950s are struggling to make ends meet because they are being denied their pension.”
Mrs Phillips estimates the changes have left her £45,000 worse off, and is encouraging others to support them.
“I am a shy person but honestly, I am so angry about this and something needs to be done.
Our local MP has failed to do much so we’re going to the top. We want our voices to be heard.”
Hundreds of members of the group sent birthday cards (often recycled ones) to Theresa May on her 60th birthday last week, and alongside wishing her many happy returns, they enclosed their condolences that she would not receive her pension for at least another six years.
To find out more, e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.waspi.co.uk/
