FIREFIGHTERS, road sweepers and librarians are among thousands of local authority workers in Hampshire facing up to the costly prospect of topping up their pension contributions.
It emerged today that a council-run pensions fund has a £590m hole in it because of the depressed stock market.
That means an estimated 42,000 employees - including those working for Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and 11 district councils - will have to dig deeper into their pockets to cover the shortfall.
Failing that, county council bosses would have to hike up tax bills across Hampshire to ward off the payout crisis.
Council leader, Ken Thornber, assured workers their pensioners were safe, but unions are furious. An official forecast predicts the £590m figure could rocket to £970m by next year if the global stock market does not improve.
More on this story in tonight's Daily Echo.
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