Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at St Benedict’s School in Ealing are starting the first of eight planned days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) over attempts to make teachers choose between their pension or their pay.
The employer is attempting to remove staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and enrol them in an inferior scheme which will offer less security in retirement. If teachers choose to remain in the TPS they must accept a pay cut to stay in the scheme.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“These unjustified plans are an attack on the financial security of hard-working teachers. The school is attempting to force them to choose between being left worse off in retirement or worse off now.
“The employer has not provided any solid evidence that there is any financial necessity to undermine teachers’ future financial security in this way.
“The Employer must withdraw these proposals and work with us so that further strike action can be avoided.”
Ruth Duncan, NASUWT National Executive Member for North West London, said:
“We have made every effort to engage positively in talks with the employer, however we do not accept that it is beyond their means to maintain teachers in the TPS or that there is any compelling financial justification for these attacks on teachers’ terms and conditions.
“Our members are not willing to stand by and allow their pensions to be eroded. Further strike action will be unavoidable unless the employer recognises its actions are untenable.”
