date: Tuesday 30 March 2004 embargo: immediate release

Attention: industrial, personal finance, political correspondents and union journals

TUC to hold pensions demonstration

The TUC is to hold a national ‘Pay up for Pensions’ demonstration in London on Saturday 19 June. Trade unionists, pensioners, workers who have lost out in recent pension collapses and others concerned about their pension prospects will take to the streets to call for a new deal for pensions. The demonstration has the full support of the National Pensioners’ Convention.

The TUC is calling for:

• the basic state pension to be linked to earnings to provide a secure foundation on which everyone can build a pension

• a new occupational pensions settlement based on compulsory contributions from employers and employees (with special arrangements for the low paid)

• urgent action to help women who face much lower pensions in retirement including making it much easier for women who take career breaks to build up a full state pension

• compensation for those who have lost out in recent occupational pension fund collapses who will not be covered by the new Pensions Protection Fund

• more choice on retirement, not higher retirement ages.

• TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, 'This government has done many good things for pensions. There has been help for the poorest, and the new Pensions Protection Fund to protect those still in work.

• 'Yet politicians of all parties have yet to appreciate the depth of our pensions crisis and are avoiding the really radical action that is needed if large numbers of today’s workers are not to face poverty in retirement. Fewer and fewer are members of good traditional occupational schemes, and pensions misselling, growing student debt and the high cost of housing have put people off making alternative arrangements.

• 'That is why we are taking to the streets and inviting anyone to join us who agrees that it’s time to pay up for pensions.'

• The demonstration will assemble at noon on 19 June on the Embankment, by Temple tube station and march to Trafalgar Square where a rally will be held. Latest information on the demonstration will be available at www.tuc.org.uk/payupforpensions

Scottish TUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said:

• 'The STUC will shortly be announcing a pensions event in Scotland to complement the TUC’s UK march and rally. We are confident that both events will attract considerable support, sending the message that dealing with the pensions crisis must remain a top priority for politicians of all parties.'

Notes to Editors:

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

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access

pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Ben Hurley 020 7467 1248 or 07626 317903 (pager) or email bhurley@tuc.org.uk

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 30 Mar 2004