NUT comment re proposed pension increases

Thursday, 28 July 2011 2:41 PM

Commenting on the Government’s consultation on proposed pension contribution increase for 2012- 13, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;


“There is no surprise in this announcement. It has been obvious from the start that the Government has no intention of listening to reason, and has been determined to implement changes to public sector pension schemes regardless of whether they are necessary or not.

“Beginning a formal consultation over the political recess when there will be little chance for scrutiny will be regarded, quite rightly by teachers as a cynical move.

“The Government is being entirely disingenuous when it says that teachers’ pensions are unaffordable, the fact is they have no idea. The Hutton Report which they commissioned never makes that claim and the Governmnet still refuses to carry out a valuation of the teachers’ pension scheme despite it being well overdue, and despite endless requests for this to be done.

“We now have a number of Government ministers recognising the flaws and the pitfalls of the Treasury’s plans and numerous reports contradicting the Government’s line.

“We cannot allow this ruthless dismantling of our public sector pensions to go ahead. The consequences will be disastrous, not only for the individual, but for society as a whole, who will be left to foot the bill of yet more pensioners unable to afford to live from day to day due to inadequate pension provision.

“We will be working alongside other teaching unions and the TUC to ensure that teachers and public sector workers are not penalised by a Government which appears to be determined to wreck havoc on a pension scheme that is sustainable, affordable and fair.

“NUT members have taken strike action before to defend their pensions and will do so again if the Governmnet does not see sense”.

END

For further details contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 3780 4706 or 07879480061 

Tags:
• nut
,
• pensions
,
• welfare and pensions