Archive_Alerts 2016

YEAR 2016

c€12m

TAKEN DIRECTLY OUT OF THE POCKETS OF THOSE ON PENSIONS OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS

AVERAGE AGE OF PENSIONERS IS 72 YEARS -

NO COMPENSATION

PLUS ONGOING 2.53% PENSION LEVY DEDUCTION

EACH MONTH FOR LIFE

PLUS €38.4m GOVERNMENT IMPOSED PENSION LEVY ON THIS MULTI EMPLOYER OCCUPATIONAL PENSION FUND

ON TOP OF THE 9TH YEAR OF FIXED MONTHLY PENSION

COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FROZEN IN 2008 AT 2007'S LEVEL

JANUARY 2015 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS SCRAPPED!

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SO BIG CUTS TO REAL AND ACTUAL INCOME FOR THOSE DRAWING DOWN THEIR PENSIONS IN IASS

WHILE OTHERS NOW SEEING THEIR INCOMES RISE AND THE RESTORATION OF DEDUCTIONS WE ARE SEEING OUR PENSION INCOME FALL

REMINDER: Clarification regarding Coordinated members on early retirement pensions

If you are an IASS coordinated member in January 2015 who left employer with immediate pension i.e.early retirement pension, who has not yet reached normal retirement date, your pension in payment will be further reduced to reflect your coordinated member status [contribution % reduced to coordinated membership status].

This deduction is in addition to your pension levy and the S50 Debt cuts imposed on your pension income by Employers/Trustees/Pension Authority in January 2015 without your consent. For some pensioners that can be an additional reduction of 50%. Individuals are expected to be informed by the Secretary of the IASS scheme in the month before the reduction is implemented.

There has been no mitigation or compensation for these cuts - buy-out compensation for reduced benefits only available to active and deferred members of IASS not in receipt of pension on January 1 2015.

Clarification regarding Non ROI pensionable service.

If you have outside Republic of Ireland pensionable service please contact the Pension Scheme office 526 8444 or email pensionqueries@mercer.ie if you have any queries. This non Irish pensionable service was not subject to MFS Section 50 debt reductions from your monthly pension effective January 2015.

pensionpayroll@mercer.com

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RASA News -

Please use rasapension@gmail.com if you have any other queries in relation to the

Legal Action or the Fighting Fund .

If you have returned signed papers to LK Shields and wish to check that you are on the list of “interested persons” (or eligible Plaintiffs) please send an email to rasapension@gmail.com

Pension Legal Action – Update – 16DEC16

The Defendants and the Plaintiffs are still engaging with each other in respect of the requests for discovery that have been exchanged by them. Considerable progress has been made in terms of reaching an agreement on what is to be discovered by both sides.

The matter was back before the President of the High Court on 14 December 2016 when the parties, on consent, requested that the President remove the motion seeking an order for a modular trial and the motions in respect of discovery from next week’s court list which he agreed to do. Therefore no applications will be proceeded with on 19 December and the matters are instead listed before the Court for mention on 16 January 2017. The Court was informed that significant progress has been reached in respect of the discovery issues and the Defendants are optimistic that they will not need to go ahead with their motion for a modular trial or with any motions on discovery. The Court will be updated on 16 January 2017.

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December 13 2016 View Darragh OBrien's Dail Questions on Promised Legislation - reference to Pensions/IASS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SezPA4kjgvQ

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November 24 2016 - view TD Clare Daly - Dail Leaders Questions on DB Pension Schemes

https://youtu.be/FDQZ-yx86M4

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November 10th - View TD Darragh O Brien contributions to Social Welfare Bill 2016 - comments on IASS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8sGRJJT9Qg

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November 8th - Annual RASA Ecumenical Memorial Service at 11am.

Venue: ALSAA, Dublin Airport:

Complimentary Tea/Coffee and Biscuits will be available from 10:15.

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October 28 2016 - Legal Update

The President of the High Court gave directions in respect of a timetable for next steps in the proceedings when the matter was before him on 29 July 2016. The exchange of pleadings between the parties has now closed and requests for discovery have been exchanged. The parties were directed to exchange responses to the discovery requests by 28 October 2016.

Following an application to Court by the State for an extension of time to provide its response, the responses are now to be exchanged by middle November 2016. The matter is listed before the President of the High Court for further directions for the end of November 2016.

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October 2016 - Legal update

The President of the High Court gave directions in respect of a timetable for next steps in the proceedings when the matter was last before him on 29 July 2016. The exchange of pleadings between the parties has now closed and requests for discovery have been exchanged. The matter is listed before the President of the High Court for further directions in middle of November 2016.

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July 29 2016 - Legal Update

As directed by Mr Justice Kelly on 24 June last, the Defendants delivered their defence and the proceedings were back before Mr Justice Kelly for further directions, as is the norm in proceedings that are being case managed. A timetable has been set for next steps in the proceedings. Following those steps having being taken the matter will be back before the Court for further directions in the middle of November 2016.

If you have returned the signed papers to LK Shields and wish to check that you are on the list of “interested persons” (or eligible Plaintiffs) please send an email to rasapension@gmail.com .

July 2016 - LK Shield Pensions Update click on http://www.lkshields.ie/news-insights/publication/pensions-update-july-2016

June 24 - Legal Update

The Defendants applied to the President of the High Court, 24 June 2016, to amend the timetable for the exchange of certain pleadings and proceedings set by the President on 11 April 2016

In particular the Defendants were seeking additional time to deliver their Defence. The Court ordered, amongst other things, that the Defendants deliver their defence by 27 July 2016 and the matter is listed before the President of the High Court again on 29 July 2016 for further directions.

If you have returned the signed papers to LK Shields and wish to check that you are on the list of “interested persons” (or eligible Plaintiffs) please send an email to rasapension@gmail.com

June 15 2016 - Central Remedial Clinic Defined Benefit Pension Scheme wind up

Clare Daly TD https://youtu.be/6FQfdKcfEns

MAY 2016 - ANOTHER MONTH OF DEDUCTIONS FOR MFS DEBT & PENSION LEVY FROM OUR PAY WITHOUT OUR CONSENT

THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION/MITIGATION PROVIDED FOR THESE UNILATERAL CUTS ON THOSE IN RECEIPT OF THEIR FUNDED PENSION ANNUITY FOR THIS CALCULATED MFS DEBT/LIABILITY

May 31 2016 - RASA AGM too place at ALSAA Dublin Airport - Excellent update presentation on Entitlements for Older Persons. If you wish to have a copy email rasadub@gmail.com

Pension Case Update

The President of the High Court ordered, on Monday 11 April 2016, that the proceedings be case managed and that a judge be assigned to the proceedings. A timetable was set for the exchange of certain pleadings and proceedings and the matter is listed before Mr Justice Kelly again July 2016

The Statement of Claim has now been served on behalf of the Plaintiffs, on the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

If you have returned the signed papers to LK Shields and wish to check that you are on the list of “interested persons” (or eligible Plaintiffs) please send an email to rasapension@gmail.com

Your continued support and commitment is very much appreciated.

Copies of the IASS Trustee Letter dated 22 January 2015 which shows the MFS Debt/Liability [Section 50] repayment imposed on you as a reduction to your monthly pension for life can be requested from Mercer, who are the Registered Administrators,

pension payroll helpline (01) 526-8444 or

email address pensionpayroll@mercer.com

A member of the payroll team will issue a copy of the letter direct to the address held on the individual's payroll record

March 2016 Pension Case Update - March 2016

RASA’s Legal Advisors have passed the following update

Finalisation of documentation for submission to the High Court on behalf of 730+ plaintiffs is ongoing.

If you have returned the signed letter to LK Shields and wish to check that you are on the list of plaintiffs please sent an email to rasapension@gmail.com

FEBRUARY 29 2016 - ANOTHER MONTH OF DEDUCTIONS FOR MFS DEBT & PENSION LEVY FROM OUR PAY WITHOUT OUR CONSENT

THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION/MITIGATION PROVIDED FOR THESE UNILATERAL CUTS ON THOSE IN RECEIPT OF THEI FUNDED PENSION ANNUITY FOR THIS CALCULATED MFS DEBT/LIABILITY

Feb 2016 - Irish Airlines Pensions Ltd, corporate trustee for IASS posts P60's for year 2015 to pensioners.

CONFIRM YOUR PENSION CUTS FROM JANUARY 2015

COMPARE YOUR P60 FOR 2014 - SEE THE REDUCTION IN IASS PENSION

Feb 1 2016 - Annual Report and Accounts for the period April 2014 to March 2015 are now available from the administrators of the various pension funds.

Jan 27 2016 - https://youtu.be/g6ldvZgijug

View C Daly TD Engaged with Chairperson Designate, The Pension Authority - Mr D Begg. - and go to Oireachtas debates Jan 27th for transcript of full debate -Committee on Education & Social Protection.

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/EDJ2016012700002?opendocument#A00100

Jan 20 2016 - https://youtu.be/ZbrUEwNIjgo

View C Daly TD speaking in Dail on appointment of D Begg as Chair of Pension Authority and referencing IASS_RASA pensioners pension cuts

JANUARY 2016 - ANOTHER MONTH OF DEDUCTIONS FOR MFS DEBT & PENSION LEVY FROM OUR PAY WITHOUT OUR CONSENT -

THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION/MITIGATION PROVIDED FOR THOSE IN RECEIPT OF PENSION ANNUITY FOR THIS MFS DEBT/LIABILITY

LEGAL CASE CHALLENGING UNILATERAL CUTS TO OUR PENSION ANNUITY

DETAILS OF HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTARY SUPPORT OUR LEGAL CHALLENGE WITH DONATIONS

A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PENSION FIGHTING FUND FOR YOUR SUPPORT/COMMITMENT

SINCE JAN 2015 €6.5M TAKEN FROM OUR PENSION MONTHLY INCOMES UNILATERALLY FOLLOWING MFS DEBT TRANSFER CUTS PROPOSED BY AER LINGUS/DAA TO PENSIONERS INCOME

AER LINGUS/DAA AND TRUSTEES UNILATERALLY IMPOSED SECTION 50 DEBT REPAYMENT ON OUR MONTHLY INCOME - THIS IS ON TOP OF PENSION LEVY DEDUCTION FOR LIFE.

AER LINGUS/DAA EXCLUDED THOSE IN RECEIPT OF PENSION FROM THE COMPENSATION FUNDS THEY SET UP AS DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION FUNDS TO MITIGATE AGAINST THESE CUTS.

WE ARE STILL REPAYING A MFS WIND UP SECTION 50 DEBT THAT WE DID NOT KNOW WE HAD & ACTUARIALLY CALCULATED USING BUY-OUT EXTERNAL ANNUITY RATES - THOUGH SCHEME NOT WOUND UP - THIS IS ON TOP OF ONGOING GOVT PENSION LEVY DEDUCTION

DEC 21 2015 - TRUSTEES NOTIFIES PENSIONERS THAT AER LINGUS TERMINATES ITS CONTRACT AS REGISTERED ADMINISTRATOR FOR IASS AND ALL PENSION SCHEMES FROM END OF 2015.

19 DEC 2015 - RASA WRITES TO AER LINGUS/DAA REGARDING REGISTERED ADMINISTRATOR SERVICE PROVISION & AGE FRIENDLY SERVICE TO PENSIONERS