Sour grapes

There seems to be almost a feeding frenzy amongst correspondents at present, and the bait they are savaging is public-sector pensions.

Perhaps those who appear to be incensed by our pension plans are ignorant of the true facts. Throughout my working life in local government, a very substantial proportion of my salary was deducted each month and paid into the superannuation fund. This was compulsory – I had no choice in the matter.

What I did have was a contract that guaranteed that if 14 per cent of my salary was paid into the fund then, upon retirement, I would receive a pension of one-eightieth of my final salary for each complete year that I contributed. In other words, after paying hefty contributions for 40 years, I was able to retire on half pay. And half of a fairly meagre pay at that.

Might I suggest that much of the hatred directed towards public servants is merely sour grapes by those who failed to set aside so much of their income for so many years.

JAMES D BROWN

Burnside Road

Elgin, Moray