“When the pension was conceived they thought we’d knock off [work] at 65, die at 67 and good riddance. Instead, we’re living until our 80s and 90s, standing on our feet with needs to fulfil and a desire to fight.” – George Zangalis, former president of the ARU (Australian Railways Union) addresses an angry crowd gathered on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament on 10 July.

The 200-strong rally was organised by the Fair Go For Pensioners Coalition (FGFP). FGFP wants immediate government action to improve the lives of pensioners and retired workers. “We don’t want to be told that we can live on $35 a day by politicians on hundreds of thousands” said Frank Cherry, National Secretary of the Retired Members Division of the AMWU (Amalgamated Manufacturing Workers Union).

Pat Warriner, a member of the FGFP Steering Committee, told the responsive crowd that “pensioners want to make a better life for themselves… [we want to] live with a bit of comfort”.

To that end speakers called for a range of improvements, including better healthcare services for pensioners and shorter waiting times in hospitals. FGFP also wants increased funding for aged care and services that are culturally appropriate. At a state level, they are demanding an increase in pensioners’ concessions and free public transport.

Rejecting wholesale any suggestion that pensioners should be content with their lot, Frank Cherry argued that the massive payouts reserved for retiring parliamentarians and company executives “clearly shows the capacity of the country to increase pensions”.

The mood of discontent was palpable throughout the crowd. Shirley described how she was moved to dig up her old payslips when she heard politicians declaring “the end of the age of entitlement”. She says her payslips from the 1950s show that she had a “social security contribution” deduction taken from her wage as a nurse’s assistant throughout her working life. 

George spoke about the relationship between the campaign and the labour movement. “The union movement does not only have a responsibility towards its members between 8 and 5 o’clock,” he said. “It needs to have an interest after hours and eventually after retirement.”

A majority of those now solely or primarily reliant on the age pension are from non-English speaking backgrounds. George locates the campaign’s history in the Greek community.

Many of these workers “went straight into industry, often lower paid jobs” and many first-generation migrants finished without any superannuation.

George was as determined as he was upbeat about the prospects for the campaign: “We have had some victories but the fight is still on.”

In his final address to the vocal crowd, George concluded the rally with an argument to keep up the fight. “To the extent that we’re organised and mobilise more people, our voices will be heard.

“And if you think sometimes that the crowd’s not tens of thousands it’s important to remember that the big things in life have been initiated by convinced people with ideas who fight for them.”

LIVING ON A PENSION

Val apologised for her fluffy pink nightgown as she opened the door. It was midday but, she explained, because of the cold she has to wear it over her clothes around the house.

Val Mullally is 70 years old and living on the age pension.

As we sat down in her lounge room she showed me the rent “adjustment” notice she’d just received from her landlord, the state government. Every time it goes up, Val says, “they send you this dirty letter”. The latest increase is all about the state government getting their hands on the carbon tax compensation the federal government recently doled out to pensioners. All up Val’s rent is up $34 a fortnight on the same time last year. She doesn’t know where the money to pay will come from.

Val’s never been one for travel and mostly spends her time around the house and in her garden. A couple of years ago she was getting by. Then her power bills started going up and now she’s cut out just about everything she can to keep up.

“The heater is off all the time… the phone’ll be the next thing to go” she says. In winter, “the only place I’m warm is in the shower or in bed”. In summer the house is “like a furnace” and Val can’t cope unless she turns the air conditioner on – but only for a few hours a day. She puts what she can aside all year to budget for a summer power bill about $40 or $50 higher than the rest.

Val says she’s always tried to stand up for her rights but is worried about her future. As a pensioner and public housing tenant she thinks that the government treats people like her “as a different class of person… There’s gotta be a campaign because what’s happening right now is affecting the people who can least afford it.”