date: Tuesday 14 September embargo: Immediate release

Attention: Industrial and personal finance correspondents

Unions win workers more control of their pensions

Commenting on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Alan Johnson’s speech to TUC Congress today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'We very much welcome the new Secretary of State’s confirmation that the government will increase member involvement in pension funds to 50 per cent. This has been a long-standing union campaign and is another victory for people at work. Fifty per cent member trustees will both reassure members that their pension funds are well managed but could also lead to a new drive by pension funds to hold their companies in which they invest to account.'

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Press release (300 words) issued 14 Sep 2004