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:

Aug 30

Join the NYC Central Labor Council, the Murphy Institute at CUNY, and the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR for a series of six workshops focused on the fundamental skills and strategy necessary to strengthen our unions in this crucial moment.

Aug 16

Join the NYC Central Labor Council, the Murphy Institute at CUNY, and the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR for a series of six workshops focused on the fundamental skills and strategy necessary to strengthen our unions in this crucial moment.

Aug 2

Join the NYC Central Labor Council, the Murphy Institute at CUNY, and the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR for a series of six workshops focused on the fundamental skills and strategy necessary to strengthen our unions in this crucial moment.

Jul 19, 2018 | News Story

Join the NYC Central Labor Council, the Murphy Institute at CUNY, and the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR for a series of six workshops focused on the fundamental skills and strategy necessary to strengthen our unions in this crucial moment.

Jun 29, 2018 | News Story

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued its decision in Janus v

Jun 29, 2018 | News Story

Members of the New York State Nurses Association are proud to announce a tentative agreement with management of Staten Island University Hospital. The ratification vote for the registered nurses will occur Thursday and Friday.

Jun 29, 2018 | News Story

New York City Council Member I. Daneek Miller, chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor, said on Monday it’s “pretty obvious” that Charter/Spectrum has not bargained “in good faith” with striking IBEW Local 3 workers.

Jun 29, 2018 | News Story

District Council 37, the city’s largest public employee union, has reached a tentative agreement with the City of New York on a new, 44-month wage pact that provides a total of 7.42 percent in pay hikes; back pay; plus additional resources to boost employee education and training and to address i

Jun 29, 2018 | News Story

On Wednesday, with an expired contract, 1,500 unionized H&M workers at locations across Manhattan ramped up their campaign for a fair new contract. After months of negotiations, it was clear to the union that the company was not bargaining with any real intent to secure a new contract.

Jun 27, 2018 | Press Release

New York, NY - "We know that these attacks on unions are being driven by anti-worker and other right wing interests to strike a blow at the infrastructure that supports every day working class Americans—not simply unionized public sector workers, but their private sector counterp