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NUT conference: Schools may face strike action | NUT conference: Schools may face strike action |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter in Harrogate | By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter in Harrogate |
Schools could face a series of walk-outs from this summer over cuts to teachers' pensions packages. | Schools could face a series of walk-outs from this summer over cuts to teachers' pensions packages. |
Delegates at the National Union of Teachers conference in Harrogate are to vote on whether to ballot for a strike. | Delegates at the National Union of Teachers conference in Harrogate are to vote on whether to ballot for a strike. |
If it is passed, they are likely to co-ordinate action with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers who voted to ballot on the issue last week. | If it is passed, they are likely to co-ordinate action with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers who voted to ballot on the issue last week. |
Ministers say any changes to pensions will be fair, and that firm proposals will be set out in the autumn. | Ministers say any changes to pensions will be fair, and that firm proposals will be set out in the autumn. |
But Department for Education officials wrote to teaching unions in January setting out what they could expect. | But Department for Education officials wrote to teaching unions in January setting out what they could expect. |
'Tricked' | 'Tricked' |
And Schools Minister Nick Gibb has written to the heads of teaching unions asking them to come and discuss the issue with him. | And Schools Minister Nick Gibb has written to the heads of teaching unions asking them to come and discuss the issue with him. |
A priority motion on the issue is to be debated in Harrogate on Saturday. | A priority motion on the issue is to be debated in Harrogate on Saturday. |
If teachers from the 300,000-member union back a strike ballot, every school in England and Wales could be hit by industrial action. | |
The unions are concerned that the coalition's changes to public-sector pensions will mean they pay more, work longer and receive less when they retire. | The unions are concerned that the coalition's changes to public-sector pensions will mean they pay more, work longer and receive less when they retire. |
It comes as the union publishes research suggesting two-thirds of its members would be more likely to quit teaching if their pension packages were reduced. | It comes as the union publishes research suggesting two-thirds of its members would be more likely to quit teaching if their pension packages were reduced. |
The government is planning changes to pensions schemes in all parts of the public sector, to save £2.8bn. | The government is planning changes to pensions schemes in all parts of the public sector, to save £2.8bn. |
It asked Lord Hutton to draw up plans for this, which it has accepted in principle. | It asked Lord Hutton to draw up plans for this, which it has accepted in principle. |
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said teachers were angry and felt they had been tricked over their pensions. | NUT general secretary Christine Blower said teachers were angry and felt they had been tricked over their pensions. |
She said if the government did not take their complaints into consideration, teachers could be the first of a wave of public sector workers to walk out in protest over the cuts. | She said if the government did not take their complaints into consideration, teachers could be the first of a wave of public sector workers to walk out in protest over the cuts. |
But she had no doubt they would be followed by other staff working in the public sector if ministers did not back down. | But she had no doubt they would be followed by other staff working in the public sector if ministers did not back down. |
'Affordable, sustainable' | 'Affordable, sustainable' |
Ahead of the vote, the union published research after consulting 7,500 of its members. | Ahead of the vote, the union published research after consulting 7,500 of its members. |
It found two-thirds would be more likely to quit the profession if the proposed changes to their pensions went ahead. | It found two-thirds would be more likely to quit the profession if the proposed changes to their pensions went ahead. |
Of these, a third said they would be very likely to leave their jobs. | Of these, a third said they would be very likely to leave their jobs. |
Nearly 70% said they saw their pension as an important part of their pay when they joined the profession. | Nearly 70% said they saw their pension as an important part of their pay when they joined the profession. |
And 60% said their pensions remained an important factor in keeping them in teaching. | And 60% said their pensions remained an important factor in keeping them in teaching. |
Ms Blower added: "The NUT survey proves what we have been saying - the government's proposals are not just unfair and unnecessary, they will have a massive impact on the recruitment and retention to teaching." | Ms Blower added: "The NUT survey proves what we have been saying - the government's proposals are not just unfair and unnecessary, they will have a massive impact on the recruitment and retention to teaching." |
A Department for Education spokesman said: "Lord Hutton has made it clear that change is needed. | A Department for Education spokesman said: "Lord Hutton has made it clear that change is needed. |
"People are living longer - in the early 1970s life expectancy of a 60-year-old was around 18 years: now it is around 28 years. | "People are living longer - in the early 1970s life expectancy of a 60-year-old was around 18 years: now it is around 28 years. |
"We will set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both the public sector workforce and taxpayers." | "We will set out proposals in the autumn that are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both the public sector workforce and taxpayers." |
NUT members last walked out in 2008 over pay. It was the union's first national strike in 21 years. | NUT members last walked out in 2008 over pay. It was the union's first national strike in 21 years. |