New survey reveals that votes can be won or lost on pensions
2 June 2008
Unite, Britain's biggest union is urging the Government to act
to make occupational pension schemes compulsory, as a survey of
voters in key marginal seats reveals that action on pensions will
influence their voting preferences in the next general
election.
In a survey of constituents in the twenty most marginal Labour
seats in the UK, conducted on behalf of Unite, half of those
surveyed stated that action by a political party to protect
occupational pension schemes would influence their voting
intentions. 34% of voters in these critical constituencies have yet
to decide which party best represents their interests.
The survey also revealed that 83% of respondents said they
would support Government action to increase the spread of
occupational pensions and 78% believed that pensions have not been
high enough on the Government's agenda.
65% believed that striking to protect pensions was justified and
55% reported that they would be prepared to take strike action to
protect their own pension. 78% considered pensions to be an
essential part of wages. The survey was conducted immediately
following the high profile dispute with Ineos over pensions. The
results of the survey indicates that the majority of the general
public believed the action of Ineos workers was justifiable.
Derek Simpson, Unite Joint General Secretary says,
"Pensions are an electoral issue and votes can be won or lost
depending if Labour chooses to act or not to act. This survey
reveals that Labour can win the next general election but only if
they work hard to re-connect with working people's real concerns.
In key marginal seats, voters say that the protection and extension
of occupational pensions would be an electoral asset. The CBI don't
want it but they don't vote Labour anyway."
"Recently 1,200 workers at Ineos' petro-chemical site
in Scotland took strike action over plans to end the final salary
pension scheme for new entrants. Encouragingly voters
overwhelmingly support workers taking action to protect their
pension scheme and the majority are prepared to take strike action
themselves. This is a clear indication that the public believed the
action that Ineos workers took to protect their pension scheme was
justifiable."
The survey also revealed that a significant 40% of respondents did
not have an occupational pension scheme but 76% believed that
employees should receive a final salary pension scheme.
For more information contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
Notes to editors
Vision Twentyone were commissioned to undertake a telephone survey
of 1,100 members of the public who were of working age (sixteen to
sixty-five), not self-employed and not a company director. The
survey was based on a questionnaire and was equally distributed
across the twenty most marginal Labour-held seats throughout the
UK.
