MP apathy attacked

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated: 19:00 EST, 29 August 2004

MPs representing more than a dozen constituencies where 40,000 workers face massive cuts to their pensions are being criticised for doing too little to help.

The workers at several plants owned by troubled US engineering giant Federal-Mogul belong to the T&N pension scheme. This looks set to be wound up with a massive shortfall, stripping workers yet to retire of as much as 75% of their promised income.

The firms fall into 17 constituencies, and many workers have called on their MPs for help. Several MPs have met with Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks, yet the meeting appeared to involve just a 'discussion of constituents' concerns'.

T&N members are becoming impatient. 'I'm underwhelmed by the support we've had,' said Nigel Foster, an employee at the Federal-Mogul plant in Bradford, where 380 workers face the loss of their pensions and jobs. Nigel is circulating a petition demanding Government action.

Last Monday he e-mailed his own MP, consumer affairs minister Gerry Sutcliffe, asking him to sign the petition - or explain why he wouldn't.

'As one of many hundreds of your constituents currently affected by the Federal-Mogul pension scheme collapse, I feel disgusted that one month after this situation came to light your website still has no information regarding what actions you are taking on our behalf.'

By Friday his e-mail had not been acknowledged. Financial Mail was told that Sutcliffe was not available for comment.

Nigel, a representative for factory workers' union Amicus, said: 'A number of MPs say they are working behind the scenes. We need them to make public statements.'

Ros Altmann, leading pensions policy adviser and campaigner, said she had been contacted by T&N scheme members whose MPs appeared to have told them their pensions may be protected by legislation currently going through parliament.

'This is absolutely not the case,' she said. 'It is increasingly clear that the scheme will have to be wound up.'