NUT: Unions in Wales send support to London strike on pensions
Unions in Wales have sent their support to colleagues in London who are taking a day’s regional strike action in opposition to the Westminster Government pensions raid.
Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the University and College Union (UCU) will be taking action in schools, colleges and universities across London tomorrow (Wednesday March 28th).
NUT Cymru Policy Officer, Owen Hathway, said:
“Teachers and lecturers in Wales will be sending support to NUT and UCU members in London out on strike. Next week will see the first stage of a 50% increase in pension contributions for teachers across Wales, despite the evidence that the cost of their pensions is falling following changes made in 2007. The pay packets of hard-working teachers are going to be hit at a time when household budgets are already stretched to breaking point.
“The pension changes are totally unfair and are proposals based not on economics but politics. The strike in London will send a stark message to the Westminster Government that teachers are simply not prepared to accept having to work longer, pay more and receive less.”
UCU Wales Political Liaison Officer, Lleu Williams, said:
“Lecturers are unlikely militants, and would much rather be doing their jobs than losing a day’s pay. Lecturers really value their pensions and have made their views of the detrimental changes crystal clear. Strike action is always a last resort but with the average lecturer facing an increase of around £90 a month in their contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) in exchange for reduced benefits, lecturers feel they have little choice.
“Our chosen vocation is to change lives and transform life chances. However it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in their standards of living by paying increased contributions and getting less on retirement.”
End:
Notes to editor:
UCU and NUT members will march through central London, with protestors due to assemble outside Malet Street from 11am and set off at 11:45am. Speakers at the pre-march rally at Malet Street include writer, political commentator and activist Owen Jones.
Marchers will then make their way through Bloomsbury, down Shaftesbury Avenue, along Charing Cross Road, down Whitehall and across Parliament Square to the Department for Education (DfE). At approximately 1pm there will be a rally outside the DfE where there will be speeches from UCU and NUT members and the children’s laureate Michael Rosen.
The Twitter hashtag for the strike is #m28. A map of the route can be found here http://tinyurl.com/79zfffr
Contact Owen Hathway, NUT Cymru, Ty Sinnott, 18 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ. Tel: 02920 431409. Mob: 07921146442 e-mail: cymru.wales@nut.org.uk
Owen Hathway
Wales Policy Officer / Swyddog Polisi Cymru
National Union of Teachers
02920 491818 / 07921146442
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