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‘CCW welcomes proposals
for submission on pensions

_ Becky MacDonald, Congress of

i] Canadian Women (B.C. Chapter),

Writes: The Congress of Canadian

§ Women recently sponsored a

Rae On ““Women and Pen-
Slons.” The speakers, economist

Bjarnason and social planner
Renata Bublick, provided an over-
“lew of the present pension

| ‘ystems and summarized specific
| Proposals included in the federal

Svcmument’s green paper on pen-
foe entitled, ‘‘Better Pensions
Ot Canadians.’”? Both speakers
Save examples of shortcomings in
oth government-sponsored and
Plivate, employer-sponsored pen-
Sion plans.

The Old Age Security (OAS) is
Universally available to all Cana-
fyi at 65 years of age upon satis-
Ying certain residency re-
Guitements. If the OAS is the
Plimary source of income, a

teed Income ‘Supplement
(GIS) is paid. a
Both of these incomes are index-
€d to the cost of living. The federal
80vernment provides a spouse’s
allowance which is available to per-
Sons between 60 and 64 who are
Married to someone already receiv-
_ Mg OAS and GIS. The allowance is
€qual to the OAS and GIS.
The Canada Pension Plan
(CPP), in addition to the pension
Meome, also provides disability
Pension and death and survivor’s

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Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1N8
682-2781

May Day ‘83
March and Rally

Assemble 1 p.m.,

Speakers: Bal
B.C. Federation of Labour | (If

Auspices: Vancouver Trade Union May Day Committee

benefits. All employed persons
must contribute to the plan.

The amount of pension available
upon retirement is earnings-
related. Basically, the larger the
yearly earnings, the larger the pen-
sion. CPP monthly benefits are
based on 25 percent of average
monthly lifetime earnings, up to a
maximum $345 a month.

The private employer-sponsored
pension plans are also earnings-
related. Approximately 51 percent
of employed men and 34 percent of
employed women are covered
under private plans.

Both these types of pension as
they relate to women have serious
shortcomings.

Many women now of pen-
sionable age did not participate in
the paid work force and are depen-
dent solely on OAS and GIS, which
together provide an income below
the poverty line.

Of women participating in the
workforce, 23 percent are
employed in part time work. The
CPP to which they are entitled is
pro-rated on these earnings.

The majority of women who
work full time earn 60 percent of
what their male counterparts eam.
Since the CPP is earnings-related,
this means a lower pension for
these women.

“Many women leave the work
force to raise families. Since the

‘CPP benefit is equivalent to 25 per-

cent of average monthly lifetime
earnings, the time spent raising a
family would be included in the
benefits calculations and would
further reduce the level of the
benefits.

Most private employer-
sponsored pension plans provide
for funds to be vested after the
employee has completed 10 years
of service. Again, this is to the
detriment of women because they
change jobs more frequently than
men. The funds which were con-
tributed to the plan are usually paid
to the employee upon leaving, but

COMPANY

Alexander St.,

legal services including:
Claims @ Labour Law
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cannot be transferred to another
employer’s plan.

Some of the proposals for pen-
sion reform in the green paper in-
clude:

e@ Stronger legislation regulat-
ing employer-sponsored pension
plans and the Registered Retire-
ment Savings Plan to ensure the
benefits are distributed in a fair
manner;

e An earlier vesting period in
the employee-sponsored plan,
from the current 10 years to 2 years;

e A Registered Pension Ac-
count to which employers could
make contributions on behalf of
the employee, ensuring portable
pensions;

@ Provision in the employer-
sponsored plans for a survivor’s
benefit. (In most of these plans itis

offered as an option, which is a .

deterrent since the pension received
is lower with that option
included.); _ :

e Provision for compulsory
membership where an employer-
sponsored plan exists (This should
include part-time workers, the ma-
jority of whom are women.)’

e An increase in the level of the
maximum pensionable earnings
under the CPP to the average in-
dustrial wage.

The House of Commons Com-
mittee on Pension Reform is to
report its findings and recommen-
dations by Dec. 31, 1983. Mean-
while, the committee is holding
hearings around the country to
hear the public’s proposals.

The Congress of Canadian
Women is preparing a brief on
reforms to the pension system as
these apply to women. Anyone
who wishes to contribute ideas
should contact the CCW (B.C.
Chapter) at P.O. Box 65703, Sta-
tion ‘F’, Vancouver, VSN 5K7.

Jack Gerow, secretary-
business manager, Hospital
Employees Union, writes: The
25,000-member Hospital
Employees Union wishes to go
on record as opposing the
testing of the cruise missile in
Canada.

HEU joins with millions of
other Canadians in urging our
federal government to proceed
towards nuclear and general

the testing of foreign im-
plements of war on Canadian
soil.

We believe disarmament is a
health care issue because health
must now compete with the
military for tax funds. In
Canada, for instance, half of
the money that provinces spend
on health comes from the
federal government. As health
care workers, HEU members
see daily the effects of govern-
ment underfunding of our
health care system. While
hospitals are forced to become
martyrs of fiscal restraint, the
Canadian military is guaranteed
a spending hike of inflation plus
three percent.

HEU believes the cruise
missile is not just another
nuclear bomb, but a dangerous
new weapon which will increase
the likelihood of nuclear war.

We contend it is unthinkable
for the government to agree to
test the cruise missile guidance
system is Alberta. Unthinkable,
because less than six months
ago, in municipal referendums,
hundreds of thousands of
Canadians registered their op-
position to a continuation of the
arms race. Unthinkable,

‘Unthinkable’ to test
cruise missile here,
says hospital union

disarmament, and to prohibit —

JACK GEROW .. . ‘disarma-
ment is a health care issue.’

because a recent national Gallup
Poll found that a majority of
Canadians specifically oppose
the testing of the cruise missile in
Canada. :

If the Canadian government
agrees to the testing, it will
destroy our country’s long-
standing international reputa-
tion as a peacemaker, and make
us an aggressive and active par-
ticipant in the escalation of the
arms race:

HEU believes it has a respon-
sibility to speak out against the
unchecked arms race.
Therefore, we will be officially
endorsing the Walk for Peace
scheduled to be held in Van-
couver on Apr. 23 Our members
will participate in the walk.
under our banner, ‘‘Peace is the
Ultimate Health Victory.”’

In addition, we have written
prime minister Pierre Trudeau
to register our oppostion to
cruise missile testing in Canada.

&

)

Classified Advertising

. COMING EVENTS

_ APR. 27 — “‘Euromissiles, the zero

option and the struggle for peace in
Europe: the Communist view.”” An
evening of film and discussion.
Featured speaker: Communist Par-
ty leader Maurice Rush. Film: "If
You Love this Planet’, winner of
Oscar award. 8 p.m., Weavers’
Room, Van. Indian Centre, 1607 E.
Hastings. All welcome.

MAY 1 — Annual Vancouver East
May Day Supper. Fresh ravioli, $5.
Doors 4:30, supper 5:30. Ukrainian
Hall, 805 E. Pender. Proceeds to
Tribune.

MAY 1 — Celebrate May Day at
the Knotthole, 4810 Sooke Rd. Vic-
toria. Smorgasbord dinner from 1
p.m. Proceeds to Tribune.

MAY 7 — Third annual May Day
Chicken Feed at the Beynon’s,
21972 Cliff Place, Maple Ridge, 4
p.m. on. For directions, 467-2888.
Dinner $6. Proceeds to Tribune.

“ MAY 8 — Annual Mother’s Day

pancake breakfast and horseshoe
tournament at Bev and Kostyn’s,
12715—66th Ave. Surrey. From 10
a.m. For directions, 594-0539. All
you can eat for $5; children %
price. Proceeds to Tribune.

MAY 21 — 1st annual Vancouver
East amateur talent contest. $50
prize. Watch for further details.

JUNE 5 — Annual Burke Mountain
Labor Festival, Websters Corners
Hall. Watch for details.

COMMERCIAL

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS.
Complete printing services. Bro-
chures, menus, leaflets, etc. Spe-
cial rates for the progressive move-
ment. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd
Ave., Van. 733-6822.

ROOF REPAIRS: — New roofs.
Reasonable. Ph. 277-3352.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appli-
ance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287.

NEED A SPRING TUNE-UP? Im-
port or domestic, $10 hr.
Guaranteed’ work. Major repairs,
$12 hr. Richard Saunders 879-4038
(anytime). Also special rates for
special needs.

_ TRAVEL

CRUISE ON THE DANUBE
through six countries. Visit Istan-
bul, Yalta, Kiev, Leningrad and
Moscow. 21 days. Ph. 531-4994.

FOR SALE

OAK FLOWER TUBS, $15 each.
936-7308. Proceeds to Tribune.

FRESH OOLICHANS. Proceeds
to Tribune. 291-0148 or 291-6576.

WANTED

MATURE, resp. woman to super-
vise 10 yr. old girl at my home
(Lillooet Rd. area, North Van) dur.
ing summer vacation. Child of same
age welcome. 980-2036.

FOUND

ONE PAIR dark-frame bifocals, left
behind after meeting. Alice,
936-7308.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CAN-
ADA offices located at 102-2747 E.
Hastings St., Van. Ph. 254-9836.
For information on political issues
or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME —
Available for rentals. For reserva-
tions phone 254-3430. .

WEBSTERS CORNERS HALL —
Available for banquets, meetings,
etc. For rates: Ozzie, 325-4171 or

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CUL-
TURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pen-
der St., Vancouver. Available for
banquets, weddings, meetings. Ph.
254-3436.

J

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—APRIL 22, 1983—Page 11

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