A major trade union has threatened industrial action if the state pension age increases again, branding it a “national disgrace”. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the pension review, currently being conducted by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, has sparked fears about the age rise.
Experts have warned that 70 could “become the norm” after Denmark became the first European country to increase its retirement age. However, the biggest rail workers’ union branded a rise “cruel and unnecessary” and warned that it would be met with protests. 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.”
Speaking in July, he added: “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.
“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 co-ordinated direct action.”
The state pension review will examine whether the pension age is still appropriate, considering factors like life expectancy, and it is set to be concluded by 2029. The current retirement age of 66 will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
It is also set to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 under existing legislation, but a review could bring this forward.
Last year, the International Longevity Centre stated that the state pension age would need to become 71 by 2050 to keep pace with rising life expectancy and preserve the current ratio of workers to pensioners.
It comes alongside warnings that the triple lock promise needs to be reviewed to remain sustainable financially.
Jason Hollands, managing director of Evelyn Partners, told The i newspaper: “Denmark recently became the first European country to move its retirement age to 70 for those born after December 31, 1970.
“While Denmark is currently an outlier, this could become the norm, and we may well see this in the UK eventually.”
