Over three million people in final salary pension schemes are prepared to strike to preserve their entitlements, according to a new survey.

Against a backdrop of increasingly frequent announcements of closure of final salary schemes, the research highlights just how strongly employees feel about their final salary membership.

Final salary schemes are traditionally seen as more generous than defined contribution or money purchase schemes, which are affected by falling stock markets.

According to the survey of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Jupiter Asset Management, 36% in final salary schemes would join in a protest rally or take strike action to preserve their pension.

If this result was reflected in the UK population as a whole, more than three million people would be willing to protest.

In addition, two thirds of the adults interviewed were prepared to put their signatures to petitions.