Shell’s failure to keep its pension promise

Extensive comment by Paddy Briggs on the posting on a website “Shell’s failure to keep its pension promise appears in the public domain Paddy Briggs”

(EXTRACT FROM THE POSTING: “Shell Shocker. Even with gas gushing like never before at the oil majors, Britain’s largest, Shell, is reluctant to share the spoils with those who have made its profits over the years.”

COMMENT BY Paddy Briggs

The senior management of Shell is used to dealing with criticism – enormous profits, high levels of remuneration for top executives and continuing criticism of their environmental record and plans come with the job. But this story on UK Pensions policy in “Private Eye” on 17^th March must have come as an unwelcome surprise.

As a Shell Pensioner and former Trustee of the UK Fund I can confirm that the “Eye” story is substantially true. The “Shell Contributory Pension Fund” (SCPF) is the largest of the two Funds referred to and at a valuation in excess of £17.6bn and a funding level of 117% it is one of the UK’s largest and most secure. The Fund, which is closed to new members, has some 36,750 members of whom less than 3,000 are active. Members in receipt of a pension number just under 27,000 and the total pensions paid in the last reported year was some £500 million. This means that the average Shell pension is around £18,700. read more

Shell’s recent response email to Shell pensioners

From Katarzyna Maciejko

Thank you for your recent email.

With regard to the SCPF and the SOCPF annual pension increase. As you are aware, the pension increases are reviewed on an annual basis, after the publication of inflation measures. For members who joined the Fund before 1 January 2009 pensions in excess of the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (see SCPF website) will increase each year in line with increases in the December Retail Prices Index (RPI) up to 7% (different increases apply for members of the Moplefan or Enterprise Oil sections). For members who joined the Fund on or after 1 January 2009, pensions will increase each year in line with increases in RPI up to 5%. Whilst there are no set criteria on what could trigger a decision to award an increase above the relevant cap (7% or 5%); the Company takes into account a number of factors to inform its decision regarding pension increases. Some of the key considerations that led to the Company’s decision are outlined below. read more

Shell pensioners in uproar over capped pension increase

28 February 2023

The December Retail Price Index (RPI) only exceeded 7% twice before 2021 (7.5%) and 2022 (13.4%).  The two occasions were in 1989 and 1990.

In 1989 the RPI increase was 7.7%. At the time the SCPF took the decision, following Company approval, to match the RPI increase and Pensions went up by 7.7% in April 1990.

In December 1990 the RPI figure was 9.3%. Once again SCPF pensioners received a matching 9.3% increase w.e.f. April 1991. read more

John

I stumbled across this on Linked In this morning – Shell’s EVP for Remuneration Stephanie Boyde (apparently known affectionately as “Sheila”) celebrating her payroll team, her smiley personal leadership style plus the “that regular beam of sunshine that you regularly shine into our banks” in the form of payroll.

*(CLICK ON LINK TO SEE JUST HOW EBULLIENT – BEFORE THE VIDEO CLIP IS REMOVED?) 

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/

Given Shell pensioners have seen a TWO-THIRDS drop in income this week it seems somewhat insensitive to say the least… read more

The Shell Contributory Pension Fund has updated its investment information to reflect climate risks after one of its members complained to the ombudsman about its lack of action on the matter. Christoph Harwood, a former Shell employee in the 1980s and 1990s, requested that the £16bn Shell Contributory Pension Fund disclosed how it was dealing with the issue of climate change, given the financial risk to investments. 

FULL ARTICLE

After Carillion how many firms can the pensions lifeboat rescue? 

The Pension Protection Fund can absorb the firm’s liabilities but the spotlight is now on others with big pension deficits

The companies with the biggest deficits, according to a report last year from pension consultants LCP, are Royal Dutch Shell, BP, BT and BAE Systems. The four FTSE 100 companies each had a deficit of more than £6bn in 2016. read more

Extracts from the ebook “John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare” (now available on Amazon websites globally)

(BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT SHELL’S EPIC 25 YEAR FEUD WITH JOHN DONOVAN – which puts the extracts below in overall context.)

Brief extract from page 50

Extract Begins

TEAM A

Dr Huong was not the only former employee of Shell Malaysia that we were in contact with. We also published articles about a group of 399 former Shell Malaysia employees known as “Team A” (see center screenshot on previous page). They successfully sued Shell for alleged misuse of their pension funds, but the decision was reversed on appeal after Shell exploited a time-limit loophole.

Extracts from the John Donovan ebook end.

Related further information

The above photograph was taken immediately after the Malaysian High Court ruled in favour of 399 former Shell employees known as “Team A” in what was an epic class action lawsuit. The Judge ruled that Shell had acted “unlawfully” in making deductions from the employee retirement pension funds. Under a hard-hearted management, headed by then Chairman Jon Chadwick, Shell successfully appealed the decision by exploiting a legal loophole relating to litigation time limits. Many of the former employees were elderly, sick and dying. read more

Sam Meadows: 3 SEPTEMBER 2017 • 7:53AM

Dividends at some of Britain’s largest companies – many of them likely to be a staple of your portfolio – could be at risk from ballooning pension deficits.

Huge final salary pension obligations have the potential to limit your investment returns, with tighter regulation and negative publicity surrounding the demise of BHS, the defunct retailer once owned by Sir Philip Green, already taking their toll.

Analysis by Telegraph Money shows that, of the 10 companies paying the highest dividends in Britain, seven have a pension deficit of more than £10bn, prompting concerns for the sustainability of paymentsto shareholders. Many of us will be investing in these companies through company pension schemes and other savings plans. read more

TIMES ARTICLE

Paddy Briggs outspoken on revolting Shell FAT CATS

By Paddy Briggs

Once again Matthew Parris speaks for me. When I spoke at the Royal Dutch Shell AGM this year against the Company’s precipitate decision to abandon Shell’s Pensioner support scheme I did so during the section on Director remuneration. The directors pay themselves millions – the CEO €10m plus, plus. The Pensioner Liaison Rep. scheme they jettisoned cost < £1m. It’s the rich wot got the riches – the rest of us are just the little people who don’t count. We have no voice. Do the elected Trustees of our Pension Fund look after our interests (I tried to when I was one)? The evidence is they do not – or the system doesn’t allow them to. Like Parris I have a comfortable lifestyle. Not a three big houses lifestyle. Not a new car every year lifestyle. Not a pay for education for the grandchildren lifestyle. But comfortable and no more than I deserve. read more

RETIRED SHELL EXEC PADDY BRIGGS

Shell board confronted by pensioner welfare question from Paddy Briggs

Regular visitors may recall my article published in December 2016 Shell cost-cutting plan will undermine the welfare of its pensioners. 

It included an extract from a Facebook posting on the subject by retired Shell executive Paddy Briggs (right). Paddy confronted the Shell board on the subject yesterday. As is evident from the response in the transcript below, they seemed ill-prepared for the question, which compared huge sums paid to Shell directors such as Ben van Beurden with welfare cuts being made to Shell pensioners. As a result of his intervention, the board has agreed to review the issue he raised.   read more

Comment by retired Shell executive *Paddy Briggs on the recent article: Withering Assessments of Shell’s Business Integrity by Bill Campbell and Bruce Culpepper

“I think Mr Campbell’s comment regarding “Business Principles” is entirely valid. I worked for a time in Shell in the business sphere which developed the (then) Group’s approach to the demands for “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSD). I took it seriously as did many of my colleagues. The “Business Principles” were a part of what we delivered. It was endorsed by the Committee of Managing Directors (CMD) and became Group policy. What was lacking, however, was consistency in application. All too often, when push came to shove, the Principles were bent to allow the pragmatic pursuit of commercial goals. Shell’s competitors generally did not feel the need to promote their CSD or did so in a more limited way. Shell in some instances wanted it both ways. They wanted to be seen as corporately responsible, but they also wanted commercial progress. The pursuit of profit. Nothing wrong with the latter of course, it’s what business is about. But to do this at the cost of corporate responsibility at the same time as promoting your unique commitment to CSD reeks of hypocrisy” read more

By John Donovan

CBC News says that Shell has been reprimanded by Canadian authorities for refusing to allow employees a few hours off to vote in a federal election.

See: Shell reprimanded for federal voting infractions at Fort McMurray mine

This is, however, a relatively minor infraction of employee rights compared with other issues of contention involving Shell and its employees.

One example is when Shell suddenly decides to axe thousands of employees, as a consequence of a “transformation” or some other cost cutting excise brought about solely by the actions of grossly overpaid senior managers. How must supposedly redundant Shell employees feel when invited to reapply for their own jobs? read more

By Simon Read: Personal finance reporter: 15 June 2016

Some 35 of the biggest UK firms with pension deficits pay more in dividends than their shortfalls, analysis shows.

Pension firm AJ Bell calculated that 54 FTSE 100 companies had paid out £48bn to shareholders a year in the past two years.

That’s almost equal to the total £52bn recorded deficit of their combined pension schemes in 2014.

“The plights of BHS and Tata Steel have brought this into focus,” said Russ Mould, investment director of AJ Bell. read more

October 28, 2015 By Lisa Smith

Shell runs several pension schemes with different features and benefits depending on if you worked for the firm before 2009, still work with the company or have left.

If you belong to the Shell Overseas Contributory Pension Fund and were an employee on or before December 31, 2008 and have a salary of more than £30,000 a year, you are contributing 6%.

Shell pays the ‘balance of cost’ which makes up the difference of the amount you should receive as benefits less your contributions and any investment growth. read more

By Lisa Smith: 24 Sept 2015

If you have a pension with oil giant Shell and are worried about what may happen to your retirement savings if you lose your job you need to take specialist financial advice.

Many Shell workers have built up significant retirement savings as high-earners in a well-paying industry.

The company runs the Shell Overseas Contributory Pension Fund – but a key point to remember is the scheme is not an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) registered pension.

Unlike the Shell scheme, a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) is a registered pension and operates under a framework of rules administered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).  read more

Outspoken articles about Shell up to end of 2016

For Jan 2017 onwards click here

Dan Etete turns on his accomplices Eni and Shell: 30 Dec 2016

Alarm Bells – Shell Pearl GTL gasifiers crippled?: 28 Dec 2016

Shell’s complicity in human rights abuses in the Niger Delta: 27 Dec 2016

ENI AND SHELL TO BE PROSECUTED OVER OPL 245 $1.1 BILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL: 24 Dec 2016

A devastating blow for Shell in U.S. Federal Court: 23 Dec 2016

Explosive allegations around Shell and Eni’s OPL 245 deal: 23 Dec 2016

Obama’s April Fool’s Joke Approving Shell Arctic Drilling: 22 Dec 2016

RoyalDutchShellGroup.com for Shell Breaking News:21 Dec 2016

THE OPL 245 SCANDAL INVOLVING SHELL: 21 Dec 2016

Corruption of Police by Shell: 16 Dec 2016

Shell cost-cutting plan will undermine the welfare of its pensioners: 12 Dec 2016

Shell Canada President Michael Crothers says Canada should stick to its values: 29 Nov 2016

Pleased to assist Leigh Day in Suing Shell says John Donovan: 22 Nov 2016

21st Anniversary Commemoration of Ogoni Martyrs: 12 Nov 2016

LIVING IN TRUMPWORLD: 11 Nov 2016

The Uncensored History of the Shell Brent Oil and Gas Field: 9 Nov 2016

Award for deadly Corrib Gas Project: 8 Nov 2016

Irish Police, Shell, Corruption and Alcohol: 7 Nov 2016

No credibility in Shell Peak Oil Forecasts, says John Donovan: 3 Nov 2016

Hearing on Royal Dutch Shell: Committee Room 1, House of Commons Wednesday 2 November 2016: 1 Nov 2016

Lament for Royal Dutch Shell: 14 Oct 2016

CORRUPT IRISH POLICE FORCE: THE GARDA: 10 Oct 2016

Australian Government unconvinced about FLNG safety claims: 28 Sept 2016 read more