Corus employees will have recently received the EWC bulletin which repeats plans to close the pension scheme to new entrants. Normally the company can be relied upon to talk straight. Not this time.
The Corus bulletin is a piece of propaganda.
The recent European Works Council bulletin is a piece of misinformation. It should be more representative of the views of both the employee side as well as management. Sadly, this is not the case.
In particular, it is misleading over the pension issue. It implies that the decision is done and dusted and that the scheme will be closed.
This is certainly not the case.
Your Union will not allow Corus to close a scheme that performs strongly.
Closing defined benefit schemes and capping the contributions is the thin end of the wedge.
At the EWC meeting, General Secretary Michael J. Leahy accused the company of treating people with contempt.
The decision to ‘bury bad news’ about the pension scheme under the job loss announcement was a cynical move.
Furthermore, Corus have not done their homework. Corus ignored the Government’s pensions regulations and failed to properly consult with scheme members and prospective members or their representatives.
As Corus failed to consult on the issue, Community lodged a complaint with the regulator.
We have made an official complaint to The Pensions Regulator.
Thanks to union pressure Corus have now agreed to go through a proper consultation process and the deadline for closing the scheme to new members on 31 March has been removed.
Rest assured, this is an issue we will continue to fight. With your support for the difficult campaign ahead, we will do all we can to stop this attack on your pension.
United, we can prevent this attack on your Pensions and secure the safe retirement of all Community members in Corus.