19.03.12
Teachers plan pensions strike
Teachers are planning to strike against pension changes, with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) announcing further industrial action to be held for one day on March 28.
The union argues that the changes would mean teachers would work longer, pay more and receive less when they retired. Last November 18,342 schools were closed across theUKwhen public sector workers, including teachers, walked out over pensions reform.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: “The Government has consistently refused to carry out the long overdue valuation of the scheme, and the Hutton Report showed that the costs of public sector pensions are falling.
“Teachers cannot be expected to just accept government proposals to cut pensions without a justifiable reason.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This is a completely irresponsible decision and won’t get teachers any further forward. The deal on the table is as good as it gets and talks are not going to be reopened.
“Most people will struggle to understand why NUT’s leadership is rejecting a good offer which guarantees their own members a far better pension than the vast majority of people in the country will ever get.”
Image c. N Hall
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