Speaking at the Trades Union Congress 2010 in Manchester this week, NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said it was important for the TUC to support the NUJ's battle against the plans, which this week led to the announcement of strike dates in October.
"The BBC has grudgingly put forward new proposals. They are an improvement – but they remain unfair and unacceptable," Dear said as part of a speech to Congress.
"How can it be fair to ask workers to pay almost double in pensions contributions, only to be worse off in retirement? How can it be fair for those at the top to enjoy six-figure annual pensions whilst the majority lose tens of thousands of pounds from their deferred wages in retirement? How can it be fair when over 13 years the BBC took a partial pensions holiday, underpaying into the fund to the tune of around £1 billion, to now seek to claw that back from hard-working staff?
"We support everything that has been said about the BBC's remit. But you cannot deliver such a remit without a skilled and dedicated workforce and you don't build dedication, commitment and skills by attacking the terms and conditions of your workforce."
He added that the "implications" of the dispute go beyond the newsrooms at the BBC.
"Public sector employers and government will be watching the outcome. What happens today at the BBC may be replicated in civil service, local government, health and education workplaces tomorrow.
"That's why co-ordinated action is necessary. Why your support is vital. Why the TUC must see this battle as one which the trade union movement as a whole must win. We remain committed to negotiating a settlement to this dispute to allow the BBC to deliver its remit. We've set out ways the BBC can meet those requirements. But, if the BBC fails to act, we remain committed to action to defend our members' pensions and for fair pensions for all."
Also at the Trades Union Congress, a motion looking at the financial costs to unions of defending legal actions was discussed with particular attention to the case of Johnston Press and the NUJ earlier this year.
Journalists within Johnston Press were preparing to strike in May in response to staff cuts and the introduction of content management system Atex. But it was called off following Johnston Press' claim that it does not employ any journalists.
Congress said it would now call upon the General Council to pursue the issue, using the European Court of Human Right's decisions to challenge existing UK laws "which are designed to undermine trade union democracy and rights of workers".
Speaking to Journalism.co.uk, NUJ vice president Donnacha DeLong said while he had hoped for a bigger discussion on the day, he was pleased the issue had been recognised.
The NUJ is already preparing to challenge the laws that allowed the calling off of strikes at the European Court of Human Rights.
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