Community Union, which is currently embroiled in a dispute with UK steel giant Corus over the future of its pension scheme, has condemned employers for using the recession as an excuse to close final salary pension schemes.

Speaking at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) congress, Community, the union for steel workers, betting shop workers, social workers and blind and disabled workers, called upon the TUC to support trade unionists and defend the case for final salary pension schemes, which it said are the best mechanism to avoid poverty in old age.

In its dispute with Corus, Community is campaigning against the possibility of the closure of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS), and is aiming to protect the 160,000 members. The Union says Corus is simply using the depressed market for steel to justify cuts to longstanding terms and conditions.

"Community Union is calling upon all trade unionists to draw a line in the sand and refuse any further cuts to the safety of their retirement," commented general secretary Michael J. Leahy. "Companies too often take a kneejerk reaction to dips in the market regardless of the long-term stability of pension funds. It is time to put people before profits and ensure that after a lifetime of labour, people are fairly rewarded in retirement."

Community Union delegates plan to meet on Thursday 17 September to discuss Corus' threts, which invlude closing the BSPS to new members, and it has already failed to pay bonuses to workers. The Union said it is refusing to rule out industrial action at this stage.

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