A brief history of the Association
The Association was founded in 1988 by a group of retired engineering staff, in response to an announcement in Ariel that the pension fund was in surplus. The purpose of the Association was to press the claim of pensioners' to an equitable share of the surplus and to ensure that a pensioner elected trustee was added to the board of trustees.
Both of these were seen as objectives capable of being achieved relatively quickly after which the Association would disband. However, as membership numbers rather than falling away increased it became clear that retired members of staff and their dependants saw a continuing role for the Association as a representative of their interests.
BBCPA's view of its current role
In the past five years, there have been no discretionary increases, reflecting both the fact that investment conditions have been much more challenging and that the cost of pension provision for the present generation of pensioners has risen appreciably because of the rise in life expectancy. At the same time, the Career Average scheme which has replaced the final salary scheme for current staff is considerable less expensive. The Association does not expect any discretionary increases will be agreed in present circumstances.
The Association has always been in favour of the trustee board drawing on the skills and experience of BBC pensioner community by having pensioner-elected trustees. As the scheme becomes increasingly mature, the case for a second pensioner-elected trustee strengthens. It is also difficult to see the justification for the difference in the length of term.
The Association sees itself as an important channel of communication between pensioners and the scheme as an administrative entity. Pensioners no doubt often choose to approach the staff in Cardiff direct, but the regional meeting which we organise and the annual general meeting (AGM) in London provide alternative opportunities for people to voice concerns.