Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions


by Sunny Hundal    
8:20 am - November 21st 2011

      Share on Tumblr

Trade unions were seven times more trusted than politicians on providing accurate information on pensions, a survey out today has found.

The extensive poll by Survation comes as Britain’s biggest unions gear up for the biggest strike in the country for a generation.

It found that TUs were in fact regarded as the most trusted body on whether public sector pensions were affordable, at 33% (a positive score of 4 or 5). Think-tanks came next, at 19%, while the media managed a measely figure of 13%. Politicians were trusted by 5% (excluding don’t knows).

Of those who expressed an opinion, 66% of people said a Pension was the most important benefit an employer can offer.

The poll will upset Westminster conventional wisdom that the government is winning the public relations battle against the unions.

» It also found that the public overwhlemingly believe politicians and company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices. 85% believe MPs are not doing enough; 86% cabinet ministers and 86% CEOs.

In contrast, only 9% thought nurses weren’t sharing the pain enough, 17% thought that of teachers and a similar number for refuse collectors.

» When asked what they felt was a reasonable pension for an employee who had worked for 25 years with a final salary of £25,000, 71% of people thought the figure should be between £10k and 20k a year. Under current public sector schemes such a person would receive around £10k a year.

» 74% felt the proposed changes to public sector pensions would make pensioner poverty worse. Only 5% thought it would improve matters.

The Survation survey was commissioned for Unite, the union.

The polling company is a member of the British Polling Council and has to abide by its rules.

Damian Lyons Lowe, chief executive of Survation said:

This survey has uncovered a highly sceptical UK workforce feeling either worried, angry or helpless about potential negative pension changes and feel that perceived well off citizens are not pulling their weight in these difficult economic times.

The Survation data can be downloaded from here.

Not all good news however. A survey by YouGov yesterday found that 52% of people opposed public sector workers going on strike over, while 35% supported it.

    Share on Tumblr   submit to reddit  


About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
· Other posts by


Story Filed Under: News


Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


Reader comments


1. Tyler

I notice they didn’t ask anyone if they thought public sector pensions were fair in comparison to those in the private market, or if they were affordable.

2. Cherub

I suspect that trades unions are more respected than all politicians on this topic, not just government.

Re: Tyler

You really think that everyone’s pension should be meagre? How mean-spirited. Surely what is needed is decent prospects for all, rather than more state subsidy when those feeble private schemes fail to keep people off benefits.

Oh, of course, in libertorian fantasy land there wouldn’t be benefits.

3. buddyhell

@1

Stop whining. If the private sector was better unionised, pensions would be better. You can thank Thatcher and her henchmen for the poor pay and conditions of private sector workers… not to mention the union-busting that takes place.

When I started working in the 70′s, I worked for a private sector company where almost every worker was in a union.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Prospect YPN

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  2. Vicky

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  3. Andrew Notman

    RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/RowfF06l

  4. sunny hundal

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  5. Kulgan of Crydee

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  6. Ian Martin

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  7. Joanne Dixon-Jackson

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  8. Stew Wilson

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  9. Lawrence Shaw

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  10. Laura Bridges

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  11. Andrew Notman

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/DjwGOx10

  12. Tania Ziegler

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  13. Jason C Healy

    “RT @sunny_hundal Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet &company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/fYR9ldZA” #in

  14. Brnch Sec Ruth H

    “@sunny_hundal: Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/cK7qVQAK”> trust imp

  15. A.N.Other Twit

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  16. Kat Friel

    RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/RowfF06l

  17. Aaron Chandra

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  18. Mags W

    RT @unisontweets: RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/r0O3fZTE < not at *all surprising !

  19. Jo Livesey

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  20. Owen Jones

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  21. Simon Douglas

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  22. Rachel Firth

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  23. Neil Courtman

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  24. Insidefilm

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  25. Chris Penberthy

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  26. Matt Rhodes

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  27. Neil Courtman

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  28. Richard Horton

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/UNDa4KBY #N30

  29. UEA UCU

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/DjwGOx10

  30. Joanne Kaye

    “@unisontweets: RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/Kae6IBP5”

  31. cliff prenton

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  32. Staffordshire UNISON

    RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/RowfF06l

  33. Andrew Notman

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  34. Watching You

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  35. UNISONCommVolSector

    “@unisontweets: RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/Kae6IBP5”

  36. Lee Robb

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  37. Geoff Trujillo

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  38. Marxian

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/DjwGOx10

  39. James Heaver

    RT @sunny_hundal: Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/b2R8yXIu

  40. Jonathan Davis

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  41. Mark

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/DjwGOx10

  42. Katy Ivey

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  43. Jill Hayward

    “@unisontweets: RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/Kae6IBP5”

  44. Philip Pearson

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  45. Steve Cohen

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  46. Joris Roulleau

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  47. Cllr Wayne Lawlor

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  48. Sindy B

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  49. Severn FM

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  50. Alan Robertson

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  51. malcolm

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  52. NWYank

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/4NcJCWfv via @libcon

  53. Dave Trew

    Strangely not making headlines in Mail and Express! Poll finds unions more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/9PaxhFoo via @libcon

  54. brian hocknull

    RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/RowfF06l

  55. neBhasikoro

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  56. neBhasikoro

    RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/RowfF06l

  57. Midlands TUC

    RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/DjwGOx10

  58. Molly

    + tht people think MPs+CEOs need to share the pain RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/5xyoz0Fc

  59. Christian Wilcox

    No surprises there: http://t.co/0blKdxhR. UNIONS are trusted 7 times more than Govt on Pensions. #Croydon #Labour

  60. Andy Bean

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/9twSd0K2 #N30

  61. Chris Gravell

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  62. Jo Platt

    RT “@Saggydaddy: @ItsTheWorkers RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/7hyOSYLZ #N30 < RT this now

  63. malcolm

    + tht people think MPs+CEOs need to share the pain RT @libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/5xyoz0Fc

  64. AGH

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  65. Janet Graham

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  66. Janet Graham

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  67. Janet Graham

    Same poll: most Britons think Cabinet & company CEOs aren’t making enough sacrifices in austerity http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  68. keith sellick

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/dqpbg8ya

  69. arti dillon

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  70. Ragnhild fd

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  71. Jamie

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/hmdnlpN5 #pensions #Cameron

  72. Mark Kelly

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  73. damian

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  74. Steve McMellor

    "@sunny_hundal: Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/VkUDlQco&quot;

  75. PCS DWP North Staffs

    “@libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/wGGDahnn”

  76. Robert CP

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/8APzH9zI

  77. Martin Guest

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  78. Redstar PCS Stoke

    “@pcs_nstaffs: “@libcon: Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/6wyzpcC6””

  79. Democritus

    RT @unisontweets RT @libcon Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions http://t.co/1CU8W1OT

  80. steve breakell

    Poll out today finds unions SEVEN times more trusted to tell the truth on pensions than govt http://t.co/sVwbjCRc

  81. CiaranNaidoo

    Poll finds unions far more trusted than govt on pensions | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/epEqUTQL via @libcon

  82. sunny hundal

    @Grabcocque http://t.co/3byX98zK

  83. sunny hundal

    @kulgancrydee http://t.co/3byX98zK

  84. New houses, unfair pay, and vegetarians eating kebabs: round up of political blogs for 19 – 25 November | British Politics and Policy at LSE

    [...] to public service pensions, according to Left Foot Forward, while Liberal Conspiracy finds that the public trusts unions more than the government on pensions. Thetorydiary admits the coalition has an uphill battle to win support for reform, as [...]

  85. Pension deal urgent, says Hutton | Breaking News From Around The World

    [...] made the case for public sector pensions reform more urgent, Labour peer Lord Hutton tells the BBC.The downgrading of Britain's growth forecasts has made the case for public sector pensions reform mo… WordPress › [...]

  86. Public sector pension talks begin | Breaking News From Around The World

    [...] to resolve the dispute about changes to public sector pensions, which led to widespread strikes.The government and the unions attempt to resolve the dispute about changes to public sector pensions… WordPress › [...]





Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.