Usdaw delegation joins thousands in march for better pensions

Thousands of trade unionists, pensioners and supporters staged a march and rally in London to highlight the UK's pensions crisis.

Usdaw members, officials and supporters took part in the demonstration, and Usdaw's president, Marge Carey, was one of the main speakers.

The TUC, which organised the event, said the demo was a wake-up call for the Government and politicians of all parties.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It's time to face up to the ticking pensions time-bomb that threatens more and more people with poverty in retirement. Those who used to have good pensions now have poor pensions. Those who used to have poor pensions, now have no pension. Government and employers say it is up to individuals to make their own arrangements, but few can afford to save enough and many are simply not saving anything at all."

In her speech to the rally, Marge Carey focused on the pensions plight of women. "Women make up over half the population, but the current pensions system assumes a traditional male working pattern of continuous employment from say 20 to 65 in full time work," said Marge. "Women need a system in place that can cater for the reality of women's lives. Women are the poorest pensioners - their average income is only 53% of retired men."

Before the rally, the TUC released statistics that showed employees in retail (the biggest sector that Usdaw organises in) and financial services are most likely to have had pensions based on their salary replaced by pensions dependent on investment risks. Lower paid workers are most likely to have lost pensions rights in recent years, said the TUC. Of those earning under £200 per week, a third fewer now has any pension compared to six years ago.

Notes to Editors:

• The 2004 edition of Usdaw’s Pensions Guide, which has information on a range of pensions issues, can be viewed, printed and downloaded from the Usdaw web site.

• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.

• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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