Prospect Retired Members’ Group Conference 2026

There was a packed agenda at this year’s very well attended Retired Members’ Group conference, which took place at Prospect headquarters on 28 January.  It was chaired by RMG President Andrew Ruffhead.

Twenty-nine motions were put forward on issues ranging from pensions to climate change. The delegates were delighted at the success of the campaign to end the ban on increases to pensions accrued before 1997 for pensioners in the Pension Protection Fund. Some of these pensioners had accrued most of their pension before 1997 and in the years since retirement the real value of their pensions had fallen by as much as 50%.

RMG secretary Mike MacDonald praised the members for their participation in the campaign, sending letters to their MPs urging them to support an amendment to the Pensions Bill.

Another major positive development was the union’s success in tackling a long-running issue regarding the British Coal pension scheme which had built up a £2.3billion investment reserve. The government has agreed that it will be paid to the pensioners –  resulting in a 41% increase in their pensions.

Delegates welcomed Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy who gave a very upbeat report to the conference on the continued success of the union and answered questions from delegates. “We’ve just over 162,000 members, the largest it’s ever been,” he said.

“The most brutal measure of success is how its membership is growing and comparing with other unions. We are without doubt bucking a trend, and we do that through the accumulated efforts of reps and staff.”

Andrew Ruffhead was re-elected President, and Tom James Vice-President, both unopposed.