Teachers to strike over unfair pension proposal

Teachers’ unions have threatened a national teachers’ strike over unfair pension plans

According to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the proposed 3.4 per cent increase in pension contributions by 2014 is unacceptable and tore up an agreement made on pensions four years ago.

The union’s general secretary Mary Bousted said: “It is grossly unfair to expect teachers and lecturers to shoulder the burden of a budget deficit, for which they were not responsible. It looks like teachers and lecturers are being prepared as the sacrificial lambs to make the Chancellor’s Budget sound better.”

And ATL’s senior vice president Alice Robinson commented: “Industrial action would be a last resort for ATL members. We are more than happy to negotiate any necessary changes, but we will not accept having changes imposed on us. The average teacher’s pension at less than £10,000 a year is hardly a king’s ransom. Teachers and lecturers want to be treated fairly, and are prepared to fight to ensure they are.”

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