Teachers’ pensions walkout set to hit thousands of schools

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike, according to ballot results published yesterday.

But less than half the members of the NUT and just over a third of ATL members who were balloted actually voted.

The national action is said to be in protest against the Government’s proposed public sector pension changes which the unions say will leave teachers working longer, paying in more and receiving less when they retire.

The Government has said it is committed to working with unions, but that changes need to be made.

A walkout is now set to take place on June 30, which could affect millions of children at thousands of schools in England and Wales.

It is the first time in ATL’s 127-year history the union has voted for a national walkout, with 83 per cent in favour. Turnout for the ballot, however, was just 35 per cent.

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “We didn’t want to have to ballot members to strike, but the Government gave us no choice because it is planning to announce a large increase in pension contributions within weeks.”

Disruption could be avoided if the Government negotiated in good faith, she added. “But if the Government continues to push ahead with such radical plans to change teachers’ and lecturers’ pensions it leaves us no choice – we will have to defend members’ pensions and there will be a strike.”

Results from the NUT’s ballot show 92 per cent of members in favour, with 40 per cent of state school members and 27 per cent of private school members voting.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “The Government’s unnecessary attack on public sector pensions has convinced NUT members that there is no alternative but to support strike action.”

The union’s executive will meet today to make a formal decision on a strike.

Altogether, ATL and NUT balloted almost 300,000 members, but if joined by other unions, it could mean around 750,000 public sector workers taking part in a walkout on June 30, against not just pension changes but cuts to jobs and pay freezes.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) took strike action in March and they are expected to join the teaching unions at the end of the month.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, which will announce the result of its strike ballot today, said: “These results send a clear message to the Government that public sector workers do not believe they should be made to pay with their pensions for a recession they did not cause, and we send our support and solidarity to all NUT and ATL members.”

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said heads will close schools on June 30 if there are not enough teachers working for them to remain open. He said: “Closing a school inevitably causes inconvenience for parents, who themselves are struggling with the results of the recession and cutbacks.

“We can’t help but worry about that. But safeguarding the long-term future of our education system is critical.

“The planned changes to pensions will demoralise the profession, discourage talented recruits and encourage experienced staff to leave.”

The NAHT is to decide later this week whether to ballot members over strike action.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “Lord Hutton has made it clear that there needs to be a balance between a common framework for all schemes and the need for flexibility to take account of specific workforce circumstances, such as those of the teaching workforce.

“But we are clear that a strike by teachers will only damage pupils’ learning and inconvenience their busy working parents.