Minister jeered by teachers during speech on pensions

Delegates at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference in Liverpool harangued Mr Gibb as he addressed issues from pensions to tuition fees and funding cuts.

His speech came the day after ATL members backed a resolution calling for a ballot on strike action over pensions changes and emotions were running high as he tried to allay concerns about the proposals.

As Mr Gibb told delegates: “I fully understand the strength of feeling on this,” and said teachers’ pensions remain a priority, he was greeted by shouts of “no you don’t”, “rubbish” and calls for evidence of the Government’s need for changes.

The teachers’ pension scheme is forecast to cost £10bn by 2015/16, he said, which is why long term reform is needed and teachers, along with other public sector workers must pay higher contributions.

Ministers believe public sector pensions should remain “gold standard”, Mr Gibb added.

Malcolm St John-Smith, a member of ATL’s executive, later told the Minister: “For your information, my gold-plated pension will be £11,000 after 30 years in the classroom.”

ATL say the proposed pension changes will mean teachers working longer, paying increased contributions and receiving less when they retire.

If a strike is agreed in next month’s ballot, teachers are likely to walkout this summer.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, which is seen as the most moderate teaching union, said after the session that it was the “frostiest reception I’ve ever seen an ATL audience give”.