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Public sector pensions are paid for by the deferred wages of public employees throughout their careers and private sector workers deserve the same opportunity to protect themselves in retirement.
Toronto (26 Feb. 2010) - Public sector pensions must be defended and labour must expand the concept of "retirement security for everyone" to all workers whether they are public or private, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Union president Warren (Smokey) Thomas says strong steps to defend pensions are required in the current political environment because of escalating attacks by the business community.
It is especially important to counteract the bogus notion that public sector pensions are "subsidized" when they are paid for by wages that public employees deliberately defer for this purpose throughout their working careers to pay for them, Thomas argues.
"They are built with our wages – wages we opted to set aside for the future instead of spending today," he says.
"And because unions have a say in the way the big plans are managed, they are very well run, unlike many (private) company plans. We still have more to do for our members who don’t have a pension. That’s why we’ve created the OPSEU Pension Plan System."
Thomas says critics of public sector pensions, like Catherine Swift of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, deliberately spread false information while portraying themselves as a voice of private sector workers.
"Catherine Swift and her ilk don’t speak for private sector workers," Thomas emphasizes.
"Private sector unions across Canada are saying, with one voice, that they oppose knocking down the pension incomes of public employees. Instead, they want their members’ retirement income brought up. Unions from both sides, public and private, are supporting the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) plan to make sure all Canadians can look forward to a retirement without poverty."
Thomas says attacks by people like "Swift and her cronies" will only escalate as the debate over pensions continues.
"Your friends and neighbours will read these stories. Maybe your relatives will repeat the right-wingers’ arguments at the dinner table," he notes.
"You will be tempted to say, 'Hands off our pensions.' I understand that, but at a time when so many retired workers live in poverty, it’s not enough. Our pension goal is bigger than us. It’s very simple, and so is our message: Retirement security is for everyone. Tell everybody you know."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE