Retirement Security

Fewer employers today provide defined-benefit pensions for their workers—and among those that do, many are offering “defined-contribution” (like 401[k]s) rather than traditional “defined-benefit” pension plans.

That’s why Social Security insurance is essential for millions of retirees. Nearly two-thirds of retirees count on Social Security for half or more of their retirement income and for more than three in 10, Social Security is 90 percent or more of their income. It is a safety net that keeps retirees out of poverty.

It’s also important to figure out what you will need to retire. Talking a look at how much Social Security will provide, whether you have another form of pension and how much you spend are all components in determining when you can retire.

For decades, workers achieved retirement security because their retirement income flowed from a combination of employer-provided pensions, Social Security and personal savings. But the recession has exposed the severe deficiencies in our retirement system. We need to develop a new way to provide workers with lifetime retirement security beyond Social Security.

More about this issue:

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

Freelance musicians who have been on strike for more than a month rallied along with their trombones, trumpets and saxophones on the Broadway sidewalk in support of an agreement with performance producer Di

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

The staff of the Hispanic Society of America, members of UAW Local 2110, officially went out on strike starting Monday morning, with workers gathering outside the Society's building at 613 West 155th Street starting at 7am.

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

Members of the Bird Union (affiliated with Communications Workers of America) rallied Thursday outside Audubon Society headquarters to demand that their employer agree to a more equitable organization.

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

More than 1,100 employees at The New York Times walked out on Dec. 8 as a part of their collective fight to reach a complete and equitable contract.

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has been bargaining with the Broadway League for over two months on an agreement for shows on tour.

Mar 31, 2023 | News Story

Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee testimony:

Mar 29

Bird Union members represented by CWA 1180 have been in a battle with management for more than a year to secure a contract. Management at their employer, the National Audubon Society, is not bargaining in good faith at all, and is in fact hardly bargaining period.

Mar 24, 2023 | News Story

The staff of the Hispanic Society of America, located at 613 West 155th Street, have authorized a strike after more than a year of negotiations for a union contract.

Mar 24, 2023 | News Story

Hundreds of Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) members at Hearst Magazines walked off the job yesterday to demand management agree to a fair first union contract at their last scheduled day of negotiations on March 28.

Mar 24, 2023 | News Story

After months-long stalls in negotiations —some regarding pressing matters like health benefits, working conditions, and pay—with NBCU and the threat of an April 1 strike for Saturday Night Live's editorial team, the Motion Picture Editors Guild/IATSE Local 700 announced last week that they had re