The difference between a pension and 401(k) type plan is that pension is a defined benefit plan and 401(k) type plan is a defined contribution plan.
Which 401(k) plans are you thinking of require paying out to a retired employee if that employee has contributed 0%?
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pension:
"A pension is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments. A pension may be a "defined benefit plan", where a fixed sum is paid regularly to a person, or a "defined contribution plan", under which a fixed sum is invested that then becomes available at retirement age.
The common use of the term pension is to describe the payments a person receives upon retirement, usually under pre-determined legal or contractual terms. A recipient of a retirement pension is known as a pensioner or retiree."
A 401k is a savings account, not a contractual obligation, so that's why it's not a pension in common usage.
Mainly pensions are available for state employees, or union members. And for that matter, state employees tend to be part of a union.
Unions are responsible for pensions, and the only people who have held onto them as the 401k has taken over.
Edit: Because I apparently can't reply to chriseaton below - 401k is defined contribution, you contribute $x which is a set amount and non-taxable. Pension is defined benefit; you receive $x, guaranteed, after x,y,z parameters are met (age, years experience, etc). They are not even slightly the same thing. Not even close.