Perhaps
now is the time to review whether using the Retail Prices index (RPI) is
the right way to decide pension levels.
Campaigners, including the National Pensioners Convention (NPC),
have used their strong voice to highlight that the typical pensioner
household has a different spending pattern to those of working age, so
an average measure of prices and inflation can provide a misleading
picture.
Pensioners
tend to spend a higher proportion of their limited income on items such
as fuel, food and energy.
We are not big spenders on luxuries such as large TVs or iPods.
The
Office for National Statistics produces a separate measure of pensioner
inflation, though this is not used to set any pensions or benefits: we
should ask our politicians WHY?
Sam
Reed
April 2010

BTPF
Recruitment
Can
I make a personal appeal to you all to join the BTPF?
Please
can
all current members introduce their spouse / partner / friend to join as a
member? After all they may well receive a rail pension as a dependant in
future years.
Do you know of someone who has recently retired or is about
to retire from the transport industry? If you recruit just one or two
people it would greatly help to maintain a membership of 20,000 plus and
play a significant part in strengthening the BTPF position with retaining
our very own representative on the Trustee Board of the Railway Pension
Scheme.
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|
Newsletters
- these publications contain items on - railway and state pension
matters - free travel - news of colleagues |
|

|
Branch
meetings for rail and state pension news |

|
Look
under Sussex
Branch for details of the Matinée Club - it's really excellent
and yes, you can join! |
 |
Outdoor
activities - walking - trekking - cycling |
|

|
Organised
away days |
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Short
break holidays |
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Social
get-togethers for fine chat - dancing - a little gossip? (who on
earth would do that!) |
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Christmas
parties |
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Our
members stay young and active though the friendship that membership
brings |
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Details
of BTPF branches and how to join are shown on this Website |
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|
You
can speak to me or leave a message on 07931 321687. |
 | Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Autumn/Winter 2009/10 message in 'document' format to
circulate to members via your Newsletter. |
 | Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Summer 2009 message in 'document' format to
circulate to members via your Newsletter. |
 | Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Winter 2008/9 message in 'document' format to
circulate to members via your Newsletter. |
 |
Click
here to download Sam Reed's Summer 2008 message in 'document' format
to circulate to members via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Autumn/Winter 2007/8 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter. |
 |
Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Spring 2007 message in 'document' format to
circulate to members via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Autumn/Winter 2006 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Sam Reed's Summer 2006 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Peter Rayner's New Year 2006 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Peter Rayner's November 2005 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download Peter Rayner's July 2005 message in 'document' format to circulate to members
via your Newsletter |
 |
Click
here
to download "Abolition of Central Trains: What happens to current
and deferred pensioners?" |
 | Click
here
for a copy of the paper presented by the NPC to the Department of
Transport (September 2005) |
 | Click
here
for a copy of the Pensioners' Charter |
 |
Click
here
to download a report of the Concessionary Fares Conference (6 May 03), attended
by Peter in his capacity as National Pensioners' Convention delegate. This
conference addressed the subject of free/concessionary bus travel for all
pensioners. |