THE recent climb-down by the government on public sector pensions highlights the problems faced by workers in the private sector, where super-rich bosses have made generous retirement provisions for themselves while winding up the pension schemes of their employees, thereby denying them financial security in retirement.

A recent survey shows that by 2040 only 10 per cent of private sector workers will have access to an occupational pension.

This is totally unacceptable, and is laying the basis for pensioner poverty in the future.

The government should be made to act now to prevent future disaster.

All employers should be legally obliged to provide minimum pension benefits for their employees, and private sector employers should not be allowed to wriggle off the hook.

ROGER BANNISTER, UNISON National Executive Council member (North West).