VECs are taking pension levy from staff who dont have a pension

[kagy]

The so-called pension levy applies to anyone who is in a state contributory pension scheme or to any employee who has opted for a retirement gratuity in lieu of a pension, or who is entitled to a completion gratuity at the end of their term of employment.

It is the later condition that pulls in a lot of the part-time and non-permanent staff referred to.

I was just comming back to post this same thing. The VEC has a retirement gratuity for all staff including those non-pensionable. This is equal to 1 week for every years service under 15 years and two for every year over that payable to those retiring over 60.
Now I just have to stay part time for another 30 years to get it because they sure as hell aren't going to offer any adult ed teachers full time work. (and that would be at the same wage as those just starting)

[mgbarry]

My understanding is that if you are a member of a pensions scheme for less than 2 years then you get all your contributions back when you leave the scheme (contract is terminated, or whatever).

So should staff on temporary contracts be looking forward to getting all their pension contributions back, including the levy!!!

[Silvio Dante]

It's a paycut, pure and simple. A descriminatory one because we work in the Public Service... Not another red cent...!

[Schuhart]

The levy is a de facto pay cut for PS employees (which I pay, and agree with). The reason pay scales were not simply reduced is that it would mean that pensions of PS retirees would then be reduced (and rightly so). And our govt is scared of old people....

This is what I understood the situation to be as well.

The fear of the old people is the problem. Presumably many of them vote, and many of them vote FF. Hence, they are able to retain their present income levels and pass the cost of that on to their former colleagues.