The South Wales Echo’s long-running campaign to win compensation for steelworkers who lost their pensions has paid off in spectacular fashion, benefiting millions of workers.

The Government has announced a £400m fund to help 60,000 workers whose employers have gone bust, including almost 1,000 former employees of steel company ASW in Cardiff, who spearheaded the fight for justice.

The campaign has also helped secure the pension rights of millions of British workers who will now be protected if their employers go out of business.

The Echo has consistently battled on behalf of the steelmen since July 2002 when workers discovered they had lost the pensions which they had paid into for up to 30 years.

More than 6,000 readers returned coupons printed in the paper calling for compensation, and another 1,000 signatures were picked up on the streets during three city centre marches when workers carried Echo-headed banners.

The petition was presented to Andrew Smith, Secretary of State at the Department of Work and Pensions.

Reporter Mark Stead also travelled to Brussels with Plaid Cymru and John Benson, one of the ex-steelmen affected, to lobby the European Parliament.

Editor Alastair Milburn said: “We are absolutely delighted that justice has finally been done.

“The Echo is very proud, not only of the role it played in winning compensation for the ASW workers, but the pressure the campaign has put on the Government to protect all pension holders.

“Its new scheme should prevent any other workers having to go through a battle to claim their rightful pensions if their employer goes bust.”

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