Former miner in bid for election (From South Wales Guardian)

Former miner in bid for election

1:00pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in News

Anthony Jones has thrown his hat into the ring to be elected to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustee Board.

The election takes place by ballot, closing on September 17. Cllr Jones is the only Welsh candidate.

Cllr Jones, from Maesllwyn, Bonllwyn, started in the mining industry in 1980 working at the coalface and headings.

The former Betws NUM Lodge chairman has held various posts in the industry and serves as a trustee on the Ammanford Miners’ Association and Betws Anthracite Staff Pension Scheme, as well as representing the convalescent home for the South Wales Mining Industry 1990-2003 and the Hafod Miners’ Welfare Womens’ Convalescent Home and Girls’ Camp for the same period.

In his election statement in the bid to become the pensioner representative for the Central and Southern England and South Wales constituency, Cllr Jones said he wanted to acknowledge the loyalty and faith that the South Wales NUM and those scheme members who had continued to support him and help benefit them if he was successful.

“I believe with all the experience through both my physical and voluntary mining work I have gained sufficient experience, knowledge and the ability to be able to carry out the duties as a trustee to the miners’ pension scheme," he said.

“I believe there is still much work to do to ensure that monies of the MPS are used to return better pensions and benefits to all members concerns over pension matters.”