Search

date: 28 November 2011

embargo: 00:01 hours Wednesday 30 November 2011

Most people think strike effective and those who oppose it over-estimate level of public sector pensions

On average, people think that the average public sector pension is around £14,000, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by the TUC and published today (Wednesday). Asked what they think the average public sector pension should be people give an even higher figure.

On average, people think that public sector pensions pay out an average of £14,000 a year but ought to pay out more than £15,000. More than 30 per cent think that the average pension is greater than £15,000. Yet the average public sector pension payment (median) is £5,600.

A majority think that the threat of a strike has been effective in making the government put forward a new offer - 44 per cent agree that the government has put forward a 'new offer because of the threat of the strike' while only 14 per cent think they have done so 'because they listened to the concerns of public sector workers'. A further 20 per cent think both equally, giving 64 per cent who think the threat of the strike has contributed to persuading the government to make a new offer.

A majority of people who hold the more realistic view that the average public sector pension is between £5,000 and £9,999 a year back the strike (52%, compared to 39% of these who oppose the strike). Opposition to the strike is greater among those who believe that the average public sector pension is higher than it actually is: around two thirds of those who think that the average payment is more than £20,000 a year oppose the strike action.

On average, those who support the strike think the current average public sector pension is around £12,000 a year, while on average those who oppose the strike think it is approximately £16,000 a year.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Union members defending their pension today can take great comfort from these figures.

'A big majority think that our threat of strike action has already been effective in getting the government to shift its position.

'And while we know that not everyone supports us, many of those who oppose us have a very inaccurate view of what public sector pensions actually pay out. Given the onslaught of misleading propaganda about 'gold-plated pensions', it does not come as a surprise that some people have been taken in.'

Results in detail

On average, people think that the average public sector pension is £14,371, 31 per cent think that the average public sector pension is more than £15,000 per year.

On average, people think the average public sector pension ought to be £15,246

64 per cent believe that the threat of the strike has contributed to the government making a new offer.

A majority of those who correctly think the average public sector pension is between £5,000 and £9,999 back the strike. Around two thirds of those who think current average pensions are £20,000 or more, much higher than they actually are, oppose the strike (66%, compared to 26% in this bracket who support the strike).

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,763 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20-22 November 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Press release (1,200 words) issued 30 Nov 2011