RAIL union TSSA is calling on the Government to introduce pensions reps in workplaces to ensure that working people are better informed about their pensions.

The call came ahead of the debate today [Tuesday] on pensions at the Trade Union Congress in Brighton.

The union pointed to research commissioned by the Government itself which shows that there is a worrying level of ignorance amongst those people who need the help most.

An evaluation of the Government’s ‘Pension Power for You’ helpline found that the service was less likely to be used by groups with low pension cover, such as young people(18-30 year-olds), women, ethnic minorities and manual workers. The independent research also found that:

Only four per cent of callers were under 30
42 percent of callers said they had ‘little’ of only a ‘patchy’ knowledge of pensions issues
One in six callers (16%) were not aware of any other sources for advice and information on pensions issues.

Under TSSA’s proposals, pensions reps would have the same legal status as lay, health and safety and learning reps. Their principle role would be to give information to employees and liaise with pension scheme trustees. They would be given training and paid time off to undertake their duties.

TSSA General Secretary Gerry Doherty commented:

“We all know that there are some serious concerns about pension provision at the moment. Certainly, the press is keen to report on a ‘pensions crisis’. But media reports on their own won’t help working people understand their own situation.

“Sadly, few employers can be relied upon to give employees an honest appraisal of the position their company pension is in. If people are to take control of their pension planning, they need a trustworthy source of information – their own pensions rep.

“Thirty years ago, nobody had heard of health and safety reps. Now they form an integral part of the modern workplace. The Government urgently needs to think about the financial health of working people.

“The age of the pension rep has come.”