"These are the same MHAs who were criticizing us on this issue when we were in government," said Grimes. "They were saying we were not doing enough to ease the financial burden of pensioners and now they are trying to take back some of the gains that pensioners have negotiated in good faith.

"This kind of action shows exactly how far this government will go to implement their right wing agenda, how casually they place the burden on people who are least able to afford it, and their lack of respect for the bargaining process.

"After fifteen years of pensions being frozen, the workers and government finally found a way to cost-share a small indexing plan. The PC MHAs in opposition applauded the move at that time and after only three short months as the government, the same MHAs are supporting a different approach. This new approach sees the workers pay for any increase by themselves, with no contribution at all from the employer, the government, towards the indexing which pensioners have fought so long and hard to finally achieve."

Grimes says these changes are further indications that the current conservative government does not have a social conscience. "We have seen improvements to health care facilities put on hold, we have serious backlogs in relation to social assistant recipients because they refuse to replace front line workers, and now they are looking to cut more from a group of retired workers with no recourse. There is no doubt about the ruthlessness of this current government, it is evident that their priorities are not with helping disadvantaged persons in this province."