THE letters in last week's Okehampton Times, attacking teachers for taking strike action overlook some of the facts of the situation.
The NUT's agreement with the Government in 2006 made changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme that made it sustainable for the long term. The agreement meant that teachers now pay more for their pensions, the normal pension age has been raised to 65 for new entrants and employer contributions have been capped.
This agreement made provision for teachers to pay even more for their pensions, or for other changes to be made if the valuation of the scheme requires it.
This shows the willingness of teachers to accept their share of any increasing costs – but the Government wants to abandon that agreement and impose changes without any informed basis from a valuation of the scheme.
The Government has failed to carry out any valuations of the public sector schemes, which we believe will confirm the National Audit Office view that their costs are falling because of reforms already in place.
In addition to significant reductions to their pensions, teachers face a pay freeze for the next two years. Government proposals for cutting teachers' pensions will result in teachers working longer, paying more and getting substantially less.
The Government proposes to increase pension contributions for teachers by 50%. For a Newly Qualified Teacher, already facing the huge and increasing burden of repaying student loans this amounts to extra contributions of £60 a month, effectively a pay cut. More experienced teachers would, on average, be expected to pay an extra £100 per month in pension contributions.
The proposed unjustified increases in pension contributions will result in many teachers simply opting out of a pension scheme they can no longer afford. This will have disastrous consequences for both the individual and society. Fewer people will have any interest in going into an extremely demanding profession should these reforms go ahead.
NUT and ATL members took this action as the Government has failed to negotiate seriously. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander's announcement on June 17 confirmed that the Government is not negotiating in good faith.
This dispute also raises important questions about the quality of education our children receive. Teaching is a tiring and stressful job yet the Government proposals would see teachers retiring at age 68. Would teachers still be able to deliver quality lessons and enable our children to learn at this age?
Dean Gardiner highlights the work of the Okehampton Food Bank. Okehampton has faced many redundancies in recent months. NUT members at the college have joined with others in making donations to the Okehampton Food Bank and in offering their skills and time to run sessions to help those who have been made unemployed.
The remarks about 'bully boy attitudes' made by R C Blake seem outdated and do not bear any resemblance to the facts. Our members do not enjoy taking industrial action yet the strength of feeling is shown with the 92% vote for action by NUT members. The ATL union had never previously taken national strike action in its 127 year history.
R C Blake does rightly point out that many employees in the private sector have poor quality pension provision. This is a scandal and it is here that the Government should be taking action. One of the speakers in support our action at the rally in Exeter on June 30 was from the National Pensioners' Convention, who are at the forefront of trying to win better state pensions for all.
Dean Gardiner states that 'everyone in the country is going to have to make sacrifices', yet a recent report from the High Pay Commission shows that the pay gap between the top 0.1% of earners and the general public is widening further.
Teachers, along with the vast bulk of the population are already making sacrifices, but we do not see why, having already agreed to pension reform in 2006, we should accept a much worse pension to pay for the mistakes of investment bankers.
Andy Woolley
Regional secretary
National Union of Teachers