Lisa Neal (Grampian Health Branch) highlighted the deep inequality facing women in retirement. Despite decades of equality legislation, women in the Local Government Pension Scheme retire with just half the pension of men — an injustice mirrored across NHS and other schemes.
Lisa painted a vivid picture of older women living in financial hardship after a lifetime of undervalued and often unpaid caring work. She explained that lower pensions result not only from unequal pay, but also from career breaks, part-time work, low-paid jobs, poor pension enrolment, unfair divorce settlements, and the effects of outsourcing.
She warned of political threats to pensions, called for strong union action, and demanded changes to pension schemes, divorce law, childcare provision, and rights for outsourced workers.
Lisa urged delegates to take the campaign back to their branches and fight for dignity, equality, and justice for women in retirement.