Power workers in pensions fight

More than 400 retired workers of the Jersey Electricity Company (JEC) are being asked to join a campaign group to fight for an increase in pensions.

Their income has been frozen for the past three years after a black hole opened up in the JEC's pension fund.

The JEC took action in 2003 after finding a fund deficit of £19m. It said it was necessary to protect the scheme.

Former staff are being asked by the Prospect union to convince the company to link pensions to inflation again.

Other benefits

The JEC froze all payment levels until 2007 at the earliest. That has left pensioners worse off and some are sadid to be "increasingly upset".

The JEC said it was forced to take the move to protect the final salary pension scheme for existing workers. It added that it had tried to supplement its former workers' incomes with vouchers and other benefits.

Chief Executive Mike Liston said the company would try to increase pensions as soon as possible.

He said there was no threat to the scheme for existing workers, which pays a pension of two thirds of an employee's salary.

The company said it would consider increasing pensions again at the end of next year if the fund looked healthier, although it was unlikely they would be linked once again to inflation.

Prospect is calling on former employees to get in touch in the hope of putting pressure on the JEC for an improved deal.