Pension robbery

It is unnecessary to scrap a good, working final-salary pension scheme (Letters, November 9). It is employers who want to shift the burden of costs onto the employee, just as private-sector employers did. This shift in costs is equivalent to an additional tax burden on individuals.

Unfortunately it doesn't come as a surprise that the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and vice-chancellors want to shift the burden of pension costs onto academic staff.

They emulate their boardroom peers in opting out of making a fair contribution to the society that gave them the opportunity to make their profits, fat salaries and fat pensions.

This undoubtedly undermines our democratic way of life and should be energetically opposed.

Andrew Chanerley , University of East London.