NUT comment on court ruling on pension switch from RPI – CPI

Friday, 2 December 2011 5:49 PM

Commenting on today’s High Court decision regarding the Government’s decision to change pension indexation from RPI to CPI inflation, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said:

“The NUT took part in this action because the Government’s decision was simply wrong. Cutting pensions to save money at pensioners’ expense is disgraceful and immoral.

“All three judges agreed that a substantial motivation for the switch to CPI was deficit reduction. It is disappointing that only one judge felt able to say that that was wrong. It’s also disappointing that the arguments advanced by the other unions involved were treated so dismissively. The NUT has obtained permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

“In the meantime, the Government has deliberately avoided saying whether public sector pensions will be increased even by CPI in 2012. We call on George Osborne to make his position clear immediately and tell pensioners that he is not going to impose even bigger cuts next year.”

End pr153 - 2011

For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706/ 07879480061

Editors’ note

The NUT legal action also included Prospect, GMB, First Division Association, Civil Service Pensioners Alliance, Association of Principal Fire Officers, National Federation of Occupational Pensioners, National Association of Retired Police Officers and the Police Federation.

The second legal action included the Fire Brigades' Union, NASUWT, Prison Officers Association, Public and Commercial Services union.



Caroline Cowie
NUT Press Officer
Hamilton House, Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9BD
0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
 

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