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Press Release

NUT Pension Ballot Results

14 June 2011

Today, (Tuesday 14 June), the NUT announced overwhelming endorsement by its members for strike action to defend teachers' pensions. In the NUT's strike ballot 92% voted in favour of strike action with a turnout of 40%

We will be campaigning alongside the ATL who have had similar strong results in their ballot of members.

The NUT executive will be meeting tomorrow to take the formal decision on a day of national strike action planned for 30 June.

The NUT believes that our pensions are fair and affordable. The Government wants teachers to pay more, work longer, and get less. They are pressing ahead with unnecessary reforms despite the changes already made to the Teachers' Pension Scheme in 2007.

The National Audit Office has confirmed that public sector pension costs are falling as expected due to the reforms already in place. Teachers are already paying more, the normal pension age has been raised to 65 for new entrants and employer contributions have been capped.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has also been highly critical of the Government's pension strategy which they say is based more on public perception of public sector pensions than on actual figures.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said:

“The Government's unnecessary attack on public sector pensions has convinced NUT members that there is no alternative but to support strike action.

“It is disgraceful that the Government is pressing ahead with its reforms which will affect teachers' pensions. The Government knows that they are affordable. This is a policy which has nothing to do with economics and everything to do with politics.

“The NUT is party to the TUC negotiations with Government to protect public sector pensions. It is not too late for common sense to prevail and for these unnecessary changes to be stopped. It is in no one's interest to create a whole new swathe of people who are a burden on the taxpayer in old age.

“The NUT alongside TUC affiliated unions will do all we can to ensure fair pensions for all.”



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National Union of Teachers

National Union of Teachers

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