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Pensions: what next?

Following the success of the NUT’s day of strike action to defend pensions, Andrew Morris examines the prospects for successful negotiations with the Government.

The NUT strike action on 30 June exposed as completely untrue the Government’s argument that our pensions are unaffordable. Government ministers floundered when faced with our arguments, so the field was left clear to the teacher unions to tell the public the truth – that the cost of our pensions is falling and that the Government’s attacks are politically, not economically, motivated.

The NUT has been part of the TUC negotiating team for the past six months. NUT Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney has consistently pressed ministers on:

• their failure to carry out a valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme

• their refusal to apply our 2006 agreement in deciding whether any further changes are needed, and

• their refusal to step back on their proposals to make us pay more, work longer and get less.

The Government has not conceded any ground. It is now consulting on proposals to put up teachers’ pension contributions by an average 1.2 per cent from April 2012, the first instalment of a three-year plan that will increase contributions by an average 3.2 per cent by April 2014 – a 50 per cent rise on current contributions. The NUT continues to oppose this increase, which is simply a tax on our pensions.

The TUC and the public sector unions have agreed that the next step is to start discussions about each scheme individually. This will allow the NUT to press our case with the Department for Education, including:

• that any contributions increase should not exceed that required by our 2006 agreement

• that younger teachers in particular cannot afford the increases, which have been proposed by the Government as a means of making teachers pay for the deficit

• that working till 68 or beyond is unrealistic for teachers.

That’s why the NUT and fellow teaching unions ATL and UCU are working together on our campaign, and others are joining in. For more information see www.teachers.org.uk/pensions.

The next big event will be our national lobby of Parliament on 26 October. We’re asking every single school and college in England and Wales to send a representative to Westminster to meet and lobby their MP. Before then, we’ll also be lobbying the political party

conferences and considering further industrial action.

Our aim is simple: to persuade the Government to negotiate in good faith. If they won’t, then we and other unions (including head teachers’ union NAHT, and UCAC in Wales, who will also be balloting members on industrial action) will have to consider further action. Stay involved in the Union’s campaign – we have come a long way but there is still much to do to save our pensions.

• Andrew Morris is NUT Head of Pay and Pensions.

The next big event is our lobby of Parliament on 26 October. Send a representative to Westminster to lobby your MP! For details visit www.decentpensions.org.uk.