NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, has today joined with other education unions in demanding that United Learning Trust drops its plans to encourage thousands of teachers to leave the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

ULT is offering teachers the option of opting out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and enrol in an inferior scheme that could leave them thousands of pounds worse off in retirement.

The multi academy trust, which operates around 100 schools, has sought to bypass negotiations with its recognised trade unions, resulting in huge anger amongst teachers.

NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:

“Being a member of the TPS is an important part of the professional terms and conditions package for teachers working in state-funded schools. Any attempt to seek to persuade or induce teachers to opt out of the TPS will be resisted strongly.

“United Learning is playing with fire with these proposals. The employer’s actions have merely served to undermine teachers’ trust and confidence at this time.

“We will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect our members .

“We call on ULT to immediately withdraw these proposals and engage with us.”