On Monday, retired CIÉ workers intend to hold a protest in Cork city centre, calling on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to deliver on what they say is his commitment that “long overdue pension increases” be paid to them.
They claim that what they call “the failure of the CIÉ board and the Government” to approve a pension increase since 2008 means many of their retired staff are experiencing hardship in the face of the increased cost of living.
“CIÉ pensioners believe they are abandoned by their former employer and by its shareholder, the minister for transport,” Noreen Coughlan, assistant secretary of the CIE Salaried Pensioners’ Association, said.
“This is simply not good enough. We are trying to arrange awareness amongst regional media and the public at large. In raising awareness, we want to encourage people to act on behalf of these senior citizens.”
The group is calling on the Taoiseach and the Department of Transport to expedite the planned increases.
Their concerns centre on former staff who are part of a 1951 scheme, and who do not qualify for the State old-age pension.
The CIÉ group employs more than 12,500 people, and there are more than 10,000 active members in the two defined benefit pension schemes in operation. These are known as the Regular Wages Scheme and the 1951 Scheme.
Approximately 2,260 people receive benefits under the 1951 Scheme and 4,125 in the Regular Wages Scheme.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said it was currently engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including CIÉ, the Pensions Authority, and the Department of Public Expenditure, on “the next steps in progressing the agreement” reached last May between unions and management.
The Taoiseach was asked for comment.