Women fighting for pension rights felt disrespected after leaving a council meeting in Newcastle, where their concerns were sidelined.
Newcastle: A group of women fighting for pension compensation had a rough time at a recent city council meeting. They were really upset after storming out, feeling totally disrespected.
These women, part of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi), traveled to Newcastle Civic Centre, hoping to hear a debate about their pension issues. They were expecting some serious discussion about the government’s refusal to compensate 3.6 million women born in the 1950s.
But things took a turn when the Labour group voted to push their motion down the agenda. The motion was meant to show support for the Waspi women and call on the government to reconsider its stance. Instead, the women felt ignored and angry.
As they left, they shouted “shameful” at the Labour benches. Christine Smith, a coordinator for the Waspi group, expressed how insulted and unsupported they felt. She said they deserved an apology for how they were treated.
It’s pretty wild that despite a ruling suggesting compensation, Labour ministers decided against it. They argued that taxpayers couldn’t handle the costs, even though many women were left in the dark about pension age changes.
One ex-Labour councillor tried to get the Waspi issue discussed earlier in the meeting, but the council only moved it a few spots up the agenda. Unfortunately, they ran out of time before they could even talk about it.
A council spokesperson explained that other urgent matters had to be prioritized. They did say they respect the Waspi women and recognize the impact of the pension age changes on the community.
It’s a tough situation, and these women are just looking for some recognition and support for their fight. They’ve been through a lot, and it’s clear they want their voices heard.
