TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has warned employers that unions are ready to resist any future moves that cut staff pension rights.
“A pension cut is a pay cut, and our members expect us to defend their pay,” he said.
“We stand ready to resist pension cuts in companies that can afford to fund deficits, have taken extended contributions holidays or expect everyone other than directors to tighten their belts.”
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Barber said that unions recognised that in some organisations pensions did have to change.
“But there is evidence that some employers still put greater emphasis on paying dividends to shareholders – often other companies’ pension schemes – rather than funding their own employees’ pension scheme,” Barber said.
