Pensions Follow

A report released last Sunday shows that nearly three-quarters of people working in the private sector will be unable to "adequately exist" when they retire.

The government stuck two fingers up at public sector workers when it announced savage cuts to their pensions last week.

The Tories have shown their contempt for negotiations over pensions—and pressure is building on the unions to join strikes this autumn in response.

"We face a real risk, if we push too hard, of industrial action involving staff groups delivering key public services." That was the verdict of Tory health secretary Andrew Lansley in a leaked letter this week.

The Tories claim that public sector pensions cost too much.

Delegates to the national Pensioners Parliament in Blackpool heckled pensions minister Steve Webb yesterday, Wednesday.

Defending pensions provides an opportunity for joint public sector strikes—but it is worth being clear what sort of pensions we want to defend.

Much of the coverage of John Hutton's proposals for what amounts to a major attack on public sector pensions concentrates (rightly) on the planned changes and their likely impact on workers. But little light has been shed on what Hutton and the government are trying to achieve.

Not content with slashing jobs and services, the Tories now want to steal our pensions.

Up to 1,000 pensioners took part in an angry rally outside parliament to protest at cuts to services and attacks on pensions on Wednesday of last week.

Lord Hutton’s pension review signals an assault on the living standards of five million workers.

Lord John Hutton was Labour defence minister in the last government.