British Pensioners Trade Union Action Association
General Secretary - Jack Sprung - e-mail  jacks@appleonline.net

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The British Pensioners and Trade Union Action Association (BPTUAA) was formed in 1972 - to organise retired trade unionists and their partners, from a desire to mobilise the trade unions to support pensioner causes. 

It is open to all pensioners, and has thousands of members in about 250 branches grouped into regions. They are often known as Pensioners Action Groups bringing under their umbrella people from other organisations or none, who want to campaign at a local level for older people. Some produce their own newsletters. The BPTUAA publishes a quarterly journal, British Pensioner, and has 250 affiliates and most national trade unions in affiliation.

While supporting the aims of the National Pensioners' Convention the BPTUAA goes further and argues for :

• A free national fares scheme, 
• Abolition of standing charges on gas, electricity and telephones
• Free television licences for all pensioners.

Contact: Jack Sprung, General Secretary, BPTUAA, The Koco Buildings, Unit 15, The Arches, Spon End, Coventry CV 1 3JQ. Tel: 02476 712490

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

• The British Pensioners & Trade Union Action Association has been in existence for almost three decades and is a campaigning organisation that seeks social and economic justice for retired workers and their spouses.
• Current priorities are the restoration of the value of the State Pension and the link to average earnings. (This was taken away by the Thatcher administration in 1982),
• We are against any privatisation of the NHS and are concerned at the step by step dismantling of the Welfare State. The cradle to the grave concept being now seen as the cradle to the trolley!
• We are opposed to inter-generational accounting which ignores the contribution that Pensioners have made to the great wealth and progress throughout the twentieth century.
• We are the generation that served in two world wars and since the 1939-45 war have been the major players in the production and services that have made Britain one of the seven richest countries in the world. Yet we are the least rewarded.
• We will continue to seek solidarity between the generations in order to ensure the retention of the basic state pension. We are of the firm belief that only the State can guarantee security in old age.
• Having been involved in the lobbying of MP's and holding discussions we government ministers over a number of years. We have decided that passive action alone is failing to advance our cause and have embarked on a course of direct action in recognition that time is not on our side.
• With millions of Pensioners suffering in poverty and an estimated 40,000 unnecessary deaths in Britain each winter (Britain is one of the seven richest countries in the world) We feel our actions are more than justified.
• To achieve our aims we will encourage the setting up of new branches by offering financial support and provide a spokesperson when required in areas where no branch exists. We also send people to Trade Union branches, Trades Councils, University Student Unions and Labour Party wards to get our message across.
• We will encourage more active support by all affiliates and fight age discrimination in employment, health and education.
• We believe that our aims and objectives are in the best interests of today's pensioners and future generations. The majority of Pensioners today have made their contribution in no small manner both in the armed services and the supporting industries of two world wars. 
• We are now being denied the promises built into the Beveridge Report in the form of the Welfare State and the National Insurance Act in particular at a time in our lives when Pensioners most need health and welfare care.
• The majority of our active members have freely given a lifetime of service to the Labour and Trade Union movement. 
  
  

  " We do not ask for the moon but we do demand justice and dignity in retirement and are determined to carry on the fight. Anything less would be a betrayal of those who have gone before us".