Report from the First World Federation of Trade Union Congress Barcelona Spain of Pensioners and Retirees by Delegate to conference Fred Krausert National Secretary.
Comrades and Friends,
With 21 countries and a hundred and ten delegates attending this historical meeting to address the attacks on the Pensioners and Retired communities of these countries to seek the assistance of the Trade Union movement and communities to work hand in hand to counter the attacks on the hard won social conditions that are required for the aged to live their lives in dignity.
Firstly I would like to thank the organizers for the tremendously great job that was done, it is never an easy task but the support of every delegate was great The opening address by the president of the Barcelona retired trade unionist addressing the attacks that are facing all of us, we understood the need for this historic conference to be held.
Delegate after delegate reported the attacks on their social conditions, and expressing the need for solidarity on a global scale to combat the attacks.
The hunger of greed of the corporates is never satisfied, resulting in the trade unions being under attack in most countries, there is urgent need for action to combat the attacks
Here in Australia the aged have never been under attack as pursued by this conservative government.
There is a concerning trend emerging in Australia economic policy debate that seniors should cough up for the good of the nation. Calls to increase the pension age, tighten pension assets test, review superannuation and the older people draw down equity from their homes to fund aged care are all being bandied about as solution to current and future budget challenges
The intent with Medicare under attack forgetting that we all contribute through our tax levy ,but no word on the 5.4 billion that is given to private enterprise by medical rebates, with an increase in the population and the high prices of doctors’ visits, then of course .the attack that we are living to long, what a statement to make! ignoring the contribution that is made by the aged in the voluntary capacity work that is saving the government approximately 5 plus billion dollars each year
Now the employment minister Eric Abetz wants to trade penalty rates for flexibility not forgetting that our aged pension is made up of the average male wage and all is incorporated into that structure to evaluate the outcome Comrades the time has come to counter all these attacks we cannot allow this to continue for we will lose everything and our children will have nothing.
United we stand divided we beg
Yours in Solidarity
Fred Krausert
National Secretary
MUA Veterans
