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:

Dec 7, 2018 | News Story

After a two year worker-led campaign by the Independent Drivers Guild, New York City officials voted Tuesday morning to set the nation’s first minimum pay rate for app-based drivers.

Nov 21, 2018 | News Story

After more than 60 bargaining sessions, Student Employees at the New School (SENS-UAW) this week announced that their bargaining committee and the New School administration have reached a tentative agreement on a contract.

Nov 21, 2018 | News Story

In February, Parking Production Assistants voted unanimously to join the Communications Workers of America Local 1101. Since then, CWA and the bargaining committee have been fighting at the bargaining table for a contract.

Nov 21, 2018 | News Story

Josefina Luciano took a hoof to her mouth while working at a Darigold member dairy. The kick broke her jaw, knocked out eleven teeth and left her unconscious. Her desperate co-workers called 911, but didn't know the address of the dairy. Josefina said she almost drowned in her own blood.

Nov 16, 2018 | News Story

On Thursday, November 15, the NYC CLC's Executive Board voted unanimously to formalize the CLC's support for postal banking and for protecting public safety and jobs in the age of autonomous vehicles.

Nov 16, 2018 | News Story

The IDG Benefits Fund (the sister organization of the Independent Drivers Guild, which represents and advocates for more than 70,000 app-based drivers in New York City) is providing free flu shots for New York’s app-based and black car drivers throughout the month of November.

Nov 30, 2018 | News Story

With a strike deadline looming and on the heels of a decisive postdoctoral researcher vote in favor of unionization last month, the Graduate Workers of Columbia-UAW (GWC-UAW) and Columbia Postdoctoral Workers-UAW (CPW-UAW) have made history by approving a framework agreement with Columbia Univers

Nov 30, 2018 | News Story

The journalists at Mashable and PCMag have joined the wave of digital news outlets aiming to become union shops.

Nov 30, 2018 | News Story

It’s no secret that the Labor Movement is under attack, directly affecting good, middle class, family-sustaining jobs. The work you accomplish everyday helps move this City forward, and we want to work together with you to help ensure that we are empowering and protecting our communities.

Nov 30, 2018 | News Story

Have you ever been in trouble with the boss and asked your union steward to stand up for you? No one ever needed the union’s support more than New York City sanitation worker Kevin Carroll.