NASUWT: Teacher’s growing in anger about coalition’s attacks on pupblic service and pay and pensions
An online opinion survey of teachers on pay and pensions, conducted by the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, has attracted thousands of responses and an initial review of these shows that there is growing anger among teachers that they and other public sector workers are being unfairly targeted by the Coalition Government.
The opinion survey, due to close today, seeks teachers’ views on the imposed two year public sector pay freeze and the review of public service pensions.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“Since May the Coalition has embarked on a programme of relentless reform and attacks on public services.
“Teachers are fearful about the cuts and for their jobs, but are being distracted by the debate on academies, are worried about the curriculum changes, overwhelmed by the pressures at school level and deeply concerned by the Coalition’s ideological assault on the public sector.
“It is clear that there is growing anger and scepticism about the Coalition’s rhetoric that there is no alternative and we are all in this together.
“The claim that there is no alternative to freezing pay and attacking pensions to tackle the deficit has a very hollow ring when millions of pounds are being frittered away on flawed experiments with free schools and academies and on bankrolling independent schools with state funding.
“Despite the Hutton Commission clearly stating that public sector pensions are not ‘gold plated’, not overly generous and provide only modest support in retirement, the Coalition continues on its course to pursue deep cuts and to railroad through sweeping changes.
“For many public sector workers, including teachers, this just adds insult to injury given that their schemes were only recently reviewed to secure long- term sustainability, affordability and viability.
“Lord Hutton’s Final Report on public service pensions is not due until March and only when the budget is announced will it be clear exactly what the Coalition is planning to do.
“However, the anger will continue to ferment and deepen unless the Coalition Government responds positively and swiftly now to the TUC’s repeated representations to engage in meaningful discussions on public sector pay and pensions.
“Continuing on this course will adversely impact on recruitment and retention and lead to low paid public service workers, including younger teachers burdened with greater student debt, pulling out of the scheme. Staff will become demoralised and demotivated, and the quality of service provision will diminish.
“The Coalition has been warned.”
Notes to editors
1. Detailed analysis of the online survey will now be undertaken.
2. Details of the NASUWT’s campaign on teachers’ and public service pensions can be found on the NASUWT website: www.nasuwt.org.uk
3. The NASUWT evidence to the Hutton Commission can obtained from the press office.
ENDS
Press Office: 0207 420 9680/81
(Monday – Friday 8.30-17.30)
Out of hours: 07966 195010/ 07966 198894
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