Any move to increase the state pension age has been rejected by representatives at the Annual Conference of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, today.
NASUWT representatives at the conference in Manchester have strongly argued against any further rise beyond the level already set of 68.
Representatives spoke of the devastating impact which Government changes to pensions since 2011 have had on the value of teachers’ pensions and on teachers’ future entitlement to a decent quality of life in retirement.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“Teachers have already faced hugely detrimental changes to their occupational pensions which have resulted in them having to pay in more to receive less in retirement at a time when they have also faced years of real-terms pay cuts. Now their entitlement to a decent state pension is also at risk.
“Any increase to the state pension age would mean teachers having to work for even longer before being able to access their pension. This is at a time when the workload demands of teaching are resulting in rising numbers being forced to take early retirement due to stress and burnout and when record numbers of younger teachers are already opting out of saving for retirement.
“The NASUWT is calling for the link between the state and teachers’ pensions schemes to be broken if the state pension age is increased.
“The NASUWT will continue to argue against any increase in the state pension age and for workers’ right to a decent retirement.”
ENDS
NASUWT Press Office contacts:
Ben Padley 07785 463 119
Lena Davies 07867 392 746
Simon Houltby 07920 711 069
Notes to editors
The NASUWT’s Annual Conference is being held at Manchester Central from 14-17 April.
The full text of the motion is below:
FURTHER INCREASES TO THE PENSION AGE
John McGill to move,
Jane Setchfield to second:
Conference notes with concern the UK Government’s stated aim of accelerating further increases to the state pension age.
Conference condemns the link between the Teachers’ Pension Schemes and the state pension age.
Conference deplores the UK Government’s failure to recognise the contribution of teachers and other public service workers, the pressurised nature of their work and their entitlement to a decent quality of life in retirement.
Conference welcomes the National Executive’s continued trade dispute, supported by industrial action, to protect teachers’ pensions and supports the National Executive in opposing, by all appropriate means, any further detrimental change to the pension age for teachers.
(Executive)
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