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| Schools and universities in London hit by strike | |
| (38 minutes later) | |
| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
| Schools and universities across London are facing disruption as two of the biggest education unions stage a one-day strike against cuts to teachers and lecturers' pensions. | |
| The National Union of Teachers and University and College Union are staging a walkout against the government's changes to pensions. | The National Union of Teachers and University and College Union are staging a walkout against the government's changes to pensions. |
| Many schools in the capital will be closed for some or all lessons. | Many schools in the capital will be closed for some or all lessons. |
| Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "Strikes benefit no-one." | Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "Strikes benefit no-one." |
| Parents across the capital had been told by head teachers about plans to close or reduce lessons during the one-day walkout. | Parents across the capital had been told by head teachers about plans to close or reduce lessons during the one-day walkout. |
| In some schools this has meant that younger pupils will be at home while lessons continue for older year groups with approaching exams and tests. | In some schools this has meant that younger pupils will be at home while lessons continue for older year groups with approaching exams and tests. |
| Pensions battle | Pensions battle |
| The teachers and lecturers are planning to march and then hold a rally outside the Department for Education. | The teachers and lecturers are planning to march and then hold a rally outside the Department for Education. |
| Christine Blower, the NUT's general secretary, says the proposed increase in pension contributions represents an extra tax on teachers - which she contrasts with the cut in the top rate of income tax for the highest earners. | Christine Blower, the NUT's general secretary, says the proposed increase in pension contributions represents an extra tax on teachers - which she contrasts with the cut in the top rate of income tax for the highest earners. |
| "Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith and which the government has shown no evidence that they are either unsustainable or unaffordable," said Ms Blower. | "Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith and which the government has shown no evidence that they are either unsustainable or unaffordable," said Ms Blower. |
| "It is the government's intransigence and total disregard of the facts that has forced teachers to continue with this action," she said. | "It is the government's intransigence and total disregard of the facts that has forced teachers to continue with this action," she said. |
| Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said that her members were "unlikely militants" who took no pleasure in striking. | Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said that her members were "unlikely militants" who took no pleasure in striking. |
| "However, it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in their standards of living at a time when the government is handing out huge tax giveaways to big business and high earners." | "However, it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in their standards of living at a time when the government is handing out huge tax giveaways to big business and high earners." |
| The one-day action in London follows a national strike over the pension changes staged by education staff last November, which closed a majority of schools. | |
| Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "This deal is as good as it gets and takes the right balance - guaranteeing teachers one of the best pensions available, but keeping a lid on rising costs for the taxpayer. | Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "This deal is as good as it gets and takes the right balance - guaranteeing teachers one of the best pensions available, but keeping a lid on rising costs for the taxpayer. |
| "We've been in serious talks for months with unions to address their concerns and reach a final settlement. This strike, ordered by the NUT's leaders, will not now get its members any further forward. | "We've been in serious talks for months with unions to address their concerns and reach a final settlement. This strike, ordered by the NUT's leaders, will not now get its members any further forward. |
| "Reforms to public sector pensions are essential - the status quo is not an option. The cost to the taxpayer of teacher pensions is already forecast to double from £5bn in 2006 to £10bn in 2016 and will carry on rising rapidly as life expectancy continues to rocket." | "Reforms to public sector pensions are essential - the status quo is not an option. The cost to the taxpayer of teacher pensions is already forecast to double from £5bn in 2006 to £10bn in 2016 and will carry on rising rapidly as life expectancy continues to rocket." |
| The action by the NUT and UCU unions has been timed to coincide with protests by other public sector unions over pensions. | |
| Unite said thousands of its NHS members who have rejected the pension changes will stage demonstrations outside hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the UK as part of a campaign set to continue into the summer. | |
| Are you taking in part in the strike? Are you affected by the closures? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you taking in part in the strike? Are you affected by the closures? Send us your comments using the form below. |