Representing 1,300 Manitoba Workers

The Future of Canadian Pensions

Move Forward Together, or Fend for Yourself?

- Debbie Marantz, CEP Pension Representative

The 3rd Annual CLC Pension Conference from November 1 to 3 in Ottawa was meant to energize those attending and to assist them in focusing on labour's campaign to protect pensions and retirement security. And may I say, that for myself and everyone else whom had the opportunity to attend, it did that and a lot more. This is the time that many Canadians are worrying about their pensions and concerns for their retirement security.

Only 38.5 per cent of Canadian workers have workplace pensions and almost one-third have no retirement savings at all. Despite some improvements in recent decades, an alarming number of retirees still live in poverty. Those most adversely affected include single women, aboriginal peoples, recent immigrants and those with disabilities. Those who have decent pensions, 'the haves', are being told that their benefits are no longer affordable and as a result they fear that they will loose them through such avenues as corporate bankruptcy, benefit withdrawals or benefit reductions, etc.

Those who do not have a pension, 'the have nots', are either being gouged by excessive RRSP Fees or are being forgotten altogether. Meanwhile corporate CEO's, 'the have mores' of our society, are telling workers to expect less whilst they demand gold plated pensions for themselves. Canadians should not have to fend for themselves in retirement while a select few hoard the pension wealth. Working people and retires deserve better.

Thus the conference was set up along this theme in order to demonstrate the value of Canadians moving 'forward together' in their golden years. From here we moved into expanding co-operative pension options by securing workplace pensions and expanding the CPP as these plans get value for our retirement money for our deferred wages. And that is what a pension is, IE deferred wages. Lastly working people need cooperative options for affordable long term care and prescription drugs.

In order to meet these needs the conference proposed five key pension demands that will be the focus of the CLC's Better Choice campaign - workers deserve and should get the pension they earned, i.e., workers' interests should be put first in corporate bankruptcy. There should be firm limits on pension administration fees.

All workers deserve decent pension converge, i.e., expand CPP benefits, encourage unionization and large defined benefit plans.

Respect for today's and tomorrow's retirees, i.e., increase public pensions so that no retiree lives in poverty. Address retiree concerns in regards to pension plan governance. Establish public elder care and affordable prescription drugs.

Our pension money should work for us and not against us, i.e., encourage responsible investment for pension plans. Encourage attendance at union pension plan education programs for labour activists.

A national good jobs strategy so that a dignified retirement is possible, i.e. implement a national strategy for family supporting jobs.

This campaign will then attempt to influence the government in an effort to translate these demands into government policy. If anyone is interested in further information on this issue and the conference they can contact myself.