Pensions are still the most important issue for most public sector workers say Prospect, ahead of their annual general meeting this week in Douglas.

The union, which represents over 2300 workers on island is due to hold its annual meeting on 12 November at 5.30pm, in the Manx Legion Club Douglas and it is expected that unease over pensions will dominate the meeting.

Prospect Pensions Officer Neil Walsh is flying to the island from the UK for the meeting, to update members on his role in discussions on the future of public sector pensions. It is the first of 2 visits before the new year by Walsh, and underlines the importance of the issue to Prospect.

Speaking of his visit Prospect Negotiations Officer Angela Moffatt said,

“Pensions remain the no 1 issue for our members in the public sector. That’s against a tough backdrop of job and pay cuts over a 7 year period.

We are trying to respond to that by bringing our pensions expert over to the island more, given discussions are due to reach an important point in early December.

Communication and information are key – so we aim to provide our members with as much as possible over the coming weeks.

It is especially important given slanted and incorrect information put out, specifically by some politicians. This is especially cynical on the part of some. We see repeated and deliberate attempts to whip up bad feeling to the point of hysteria against public sector workers.

We aim to keep the dialogue factual and sensible – and deal with the issues practically”

The meeting is expected to be attended by 100 plus members, with more to be scheduled in early December, prior to a report to Tynwald on the issue.