Transport union RMT has cautioned the government against any attempts to “drastically” raise the state pension age beyond 68, warning that this would be met with "strong resistance", including coordinated protests from across the trade union movement.

Whilst the state pension age is currently 66 for men and women, it is due to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2027, and to 68 in 2044.

However, the recent news that the government had launched a review of the state pension age, as required by law, has sparked concerns that the government could be considering plans to raise the state pension age further.

Given this, the union called on the Labour government to reject "tired arguments" about affordability and instead embrace an alternative economic strategy based on fair taxation, public investment, and the idea that pensions are "not a privilege but a right earned by workers".

In particular, RMT outlined alternatives to fund pensions and maintain the triple lock, including a modest wealth tax on assets over £2m, taxing capital gains and dividends, and scrapping the National Insurance (NI) cap on higher earners.

The union also proposed extending NI to unearned income, reinvesting profits from public transport and energy, and creating a sovereign wealth fund for long-term pension security.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The UK state pension is already one of the worst in the entire developed world, which is a direct result of decades of governments transferring both our national and personal wealth to the super rich.

“Any decision to squeeze more out of working people by forcing us to work even longer would be a national disgrace.

“Our members work in physically demanding, round-the-clock, safety-critical jobs. Many already struggle to reach retirement in good health, especially shift workers."

Given this, Dempsey argued that "raising the pension age even further isn’t just cruel and unnecessary, it’s a slap in the face to the very people who keep this country running.

“If this government makes any move to drastically increase the retirement age, we intend to lead our movement onto the streets and will not hesitate to protest nationally and take coordinated direct action," he added.

“Labour must stand by those who put them in government and adopt a fairer funding model for pensions.

"There is plenty of wealth in the economy. The Labour government needs to capture it and distribute it where it is most needed including funding a decent state pension."

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