‘Tell the public the truth on pensions,’ says NASUWT
Following the submission today of the NASUWT response to the Department for Education consultation on ‘Proposed Increases to Contributions for Members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme’, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, said:
“The Coalition Government should tell the public the truth about why it is seeking to raid the pensions of millions of ordinary public service workers and why it is taxing public sector workers who are acting responsibly by trying to save for their retirement.
“The DfE has provided no objective evidence to support the need to increase the pension contribution paid by teachers. The only conclusion to draw is that these contribution increases are a wholly unjustified tax on teachers.
“The DfE and the Treasury must explain why they continue to refuse to publish an independent actuarial valuation on the costs and sustainability of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
“The Coalition Government is in breach of its statutory authority by its decision to suspend an actuarial valuation which is now seriously overdue.
“A recent survey for the NASUWT of over 37,000 teachers and headteachers found overwhelming opposition to the Coalition Government’s proposed pension reforms.
“In the face of this and other attacks on teachers and headteachers, the NASUWT is balloting its members for industrial action.”
ENDS
Note to editors
The NASUWT is balloting members for industrial action on pensions, workload, pay and conditions of service, and job loss. The ballot of NASUWT members across the UK will open on 4th November and close on 17 November 2011.
Ben Padley
Journalist
Campaigns and Communications
NASUWT,
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B45 8RS
Tel: 0121 453 6150
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