The campaign, Decent Pensions: Securing the Future for All, aims to have a representative at the lobby from every school in the maintained, academy and independent sectors in England and Wales as well as from colleges and post-92 universities (approximately 25,000 in total), and many institutions are expected to send groups of staff to swell numbers even further.

The lobby is being held during the half-term holiday to avoid interrupting school children’s education and causing disruption for parents. However the seven unions have not ruled out further industrial action if the government continues to erode pensions.

Information is going out this week to schools, colleges and post-92 universities along with petitions to be signed by staff on behalf of their school or college. All 25,000 petitions will be collected and presented to MPs during the lobby on the 26th. If signatures are collected from most of the staff in schools, colleges and universities, it will be the biggest ever traditional petition from those who work in education institutions.

Teachers and lecturers also will be scheduling lobbying meetings with their local MPs during the afternoon of the lobby.

Organisers of the campaign issued this statement:

“The fact that thousands of teachers and lecturers from around the country are giving up a day of their half-term holiday to come to London to lobby MPs shows just how high feelings are running. The profession is absolutely united in condemning the scandalous way pensions are being ransacked to pay off the national debt.

“The public has a right to know that cuts could ultimately affect the quality of education for young people as high calibre graduates re-think their career choice. We will also be challenging the myths about how public sector pensions impact on taxpayers.

“Teachers and lecturers never take strike action lightly and for this reason the lobby has been organised during half term, to ensure there is no disruption to pupils or parents. However if the government continues to erode pensions, which they know are both affordable and sustainable, teachers will be left with no option but to take further action, including strike action.

“We urge the government to listen to the message that this lobby sends. Teachers cannot stand by and see their pensions eroded for purely political reasons. It is entirely possible to avoid further disruption but for that to happen the government needs to negotiate fairly.”

The campaign is being jointly organised by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL),  National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT The Teachers’ Union, National Union of Teachers (NUT), University and College Union (UCU), and Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (UCAC).

‘Health and safety law is all about preventing illness and injuries at work and controlling the workplace risks to employees. Every listing in the HSE top ten relates to public safety or insurance issues and has nothing to do with health and safety as it applies to workers.

‘The failure to find one example from a workplace shows that the idea that the UK has an ‘over-zealous’ health and safety culture in Britain is a total myth. The opposite is in fact the case. Many employers fail to do even a basic safety risk assessment and so are putting the safety and well-being of their staff in jeopardy.

‘Official statistics show that 1.2 million people currently at work have health problems caused by their jobs. The problem is not employers using health and safety as an excuse but the government using myths like this as a reason for cutting back on regulation, enforcement and guidance.’

Meanwhile, a report from NIACE  argues that it is critical for third sector organisations to receive the right support from government and local authorities,  because of the positive impact they can have on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). To read more and download the report please visit the NIACE website.

Commenting ahead of this week’s GCSE results Dr Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said:  “This week we should be celebrating the achievements of all young people, whether in academic subjects or vocational qualifications, many of whom will have succeeded despite difficult personal circumstances.

“Unfortunately, the pressure on schools and teachers of the league tables has already led to too much teaching focusing on getting pupils through exams. The government’s intention to devalue and limit vocational qualifications in future league tables will tie schools’ hands and push many young people into qualifications that don’t allow them to develop their talents and excel. In addition, this year the arbitrary introduction of new GCSE floor targets is pushing schools to concentrate their attention on borderline C/D pupils at the expense of other pupils.

“We need an education system fit for all, not the select few.”

‘Today many thousands will be rightly rewarded for their hard work with excellent A-level results and a fantastic chance to go to university.

‘But because of the rush to avoid next year’s fees hike, and the government’s refusal to fund extra university places, record numbers of students will lose out on higher education altogether.

‘While the growing number of apprenticeships is welcome, too few are going to young people. And with one in five young people currently out of work, the prospects for too many youngsters leaving school are bleak.

‘Young people are being badly let down by this government – a failure that carries a devastating social and economic impact. Ministers need to step up and prioritise providing more jobs and training for young people.’

Two ballots were held, one for members in state schools and colleges, and one for those members working in independent schools.

Of teachers, lecturers, and AMiE members  working in state-funded schools and colleges, 62,369 were balloted.  22,230 voted (36%), and of those 18,396 (83%) voted to strike, and 3,785 voted against.

Of teachers and lecturers working in independent schools and colleges, 15,973 were balloted.  5,333 voted (33%), and of those 4,444 (83%) voted to strike, 868 voted against.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said:  “This is a warning shot across the bows to the government.  When even the least militant education union and teachers working in private schools vote to strike the government would be wrong to ignore it.

“We didn’t want to have to ballot members to strike, but the government gave us no choice because it is planning to announce a large increase in pension contributions within weeks.  This is despite changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), along with other public sector schemes, made by agreement in 2007 to deal with increased life expectancy which together will save the Treasury £67 billion over the next 50 years.  The planned increase in pension contributions from teachers and lecturers has nothing to do with the health of the TPS and is just a 3.5% tax on teachers and lecturers.

“We don’t want to have to strike now.  What happens next is up to the government.  If it negotiates in good faith we can all avert unnecessary disruption to pupils, schools and colleges across England and Wales.

“But if the government continues to push ahead with such radical plans to change teachers’ and lecturers’ pensions it leaves us no choice – we will have to defend members’ pensions and there will be a strike.  We are willing to negotiate anytime and anywhere – is the government?”

ATL president, Andy Brown, said:  “Teachers and lecturers feel totally betrayed by the government.  When we all started teaching we accepted the deal to work for less than friends in other degree-level professions, in return for receiving a modest but secure pension.  No way do we have gold-plated pensions – the average teacher’s pension is £10,000 a year.

“Teachers and lecturers do not live in ivory towers.  We are only too well aware of the current economic problems and the financial hardships many people are suffering because many of the families of the children we teach are suffering too and we are feeling the pain ourselves – teachers have a two-year pay freeze, are facing redundancies, benefit cuts, and a VAT increase.

“The government’s plans to fundamentally change our pensions will ultimately damage children’s education.  It will mean fewer people wanting to train as teachers or lecturers, and make it unaffordable for young teachers saddled with student debt to join the pension scheme.  Schools will lose great teachers, lecturers and heads, and it will be incredibly hard for schools to recruit heads, particularly at primary level.  Some private schools are likely to close and fees will go up in others as schools struggle to fund pension schemes for their staff.  How can this possibly benefit anyone?

“It is completely unjust to make teachers, lecturers and children suffer for the economic mistakes made by UK governments and the financial sector.

“Tomorrow (15 June) I will make a decision on the date for a strike unless the government indicates a willingness to make significant changes to its plans.”

The government’s pension proposals would mean all teachers and lecturers would have to:

• pay more – pension contributions would increase from 6.4% to 9.8%, which would mean on average a teacher would pay £1,145 a year more and a headteacher £1,965 more.
• work longer – the normal retirement age would rise to 66 and then 68.
• get less – the final salary scheme would be replaced by a career average scheme giving 15% less in retirement.
• And the proposals would exclude all teachers and heads in independent schools, around 60,000 people.

ATL balloted all ATL and AMiE (its leadership group) members in England and Wales who are eligible to be members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
ATL members last took national industrial action on 2 May 1979, before current legislation on balloting, over changes to teachers’ pay.

ATL has balloted around 80,000 members – all ATL and AMiE (its leadership group) members in England and Wales who are eligible to be in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). This includes all members employed as teachers, lecturers or leaders in:

• local authority state funded schools,
• local authority central services, who are paid as teachers and eligible for the TPS
• academies
• sixth form colleges and further education colleges which are all part of the TPS
  independent schools which have been admitted to the TPS
• the post 1992 universities who are in the TPS.

The ballot was carried out from Friday 20 May to Tuesday 14 June. ATL last took national industrial action on 2 May 1979, over changes to teachers’ pay, when members held an afternoon of union branch meetings.

The ballot is being undertaken because the government has to date, failed to enter into any meaningful negotiations over proposed changes to teachers’  pensions; and is proposing in June to start a process that will substantially increase pension contribution rates. Taken together the proposals will mean members:

Pay more: An increase in contributions from 6.4% to 9.8% means a college manger earning £35,000 a year will pay on average an extra £100 per month and a college manager on £50,000 a year will pay an extra £141 a month. A headteacher could end up paying as much as £163 extra per month.

Work longer: The normal retirement age will rise to 66 and then to 68

Receive less: the replacement of the final salary scheme by a career average scheme means 15% less in retirement, while changes in the way pension increases are calculated – a move from RPI to CPI – mean a £10,000 a year pension has already lost £150 this year

Under these proposals, AMiE members stand to be the greatest losers.

Peter Pendle, ATL Deputy General Secretary said, “This unprecedented decision has not been taken lightly. Although it takes AMiE and ATL down a path that doesn’t come naturally, it has been agreed by elected members following calls for such action from the wider membership, including a decision of ATL conference. The decision was also considered without any opposition by the AMiE Council at it’s meeting last Friday.

“The TUC is representing education staff and other public sector workers in talks with ministers. However, to date the government won’t back down on any of its proposals, with plans to make our members pay more into their pension likely to be finalised in June. Ministers can’t provide a proper justification for these changes and haven’t carried out the required valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme which would demonstrate the actual costs of teachers’ pensions.”

AMiE will continue to talk, but believes the government are more likely to take negotiations seriously if they see strong support for industrial action.

The ballot will take place from 20 May until 12.00 noon 14 June. Only those AMiE members who belong to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will be balloted. This includes teachers in maintained schools, FE and sixth form colleges, academies, central LEA services, and independent schools admitted into the Teachers Pensions Scheme.

Background briefings on the Hutton report, together with other materials, are available on the AMiE website (www.amie.uk.com). Members who have any questions regarding their eligibility to vote should contact the ATL Pensions line on 020 7782 1616.

The ballot timetable will be decided in consultation with other teacher unions if they decide to ballot. 

A day of strike action, held jointly with other teacher unions, could take place towards the end of the summer term unless the Government negotiates in good faith. 

Further days of action could take place in the autumn term.

The ballot will be of ATL teachers, lecturers and members of the AMiE leadership section working in state-funded and independent schools and colleges in England and Wales who are members or are eligible to be members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Dr Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said:  “We will not ask members to do anything to upset this summer’s exams.  But ATL and AMiE members are very angry – and it takes a lot to get them this angry.  They do not accept the Government’s view that the TPS needs to be reformed.  The Government still has not carried out a proper valuation of the TPS, so there is no evidence that changes are needed.  Striking is the last thing that ATL members will want to do.  We hope the Government ends its intransigence and rethinks its proposals.”

From teacher training, curriculum and assessment through to inspection, funding, academies and free schools, he said that the coalition government is overhauling almost every aspect of state education and doing so at a rapid pace.

Andy Brown said, “Education reform is spinning out of control. The coalition government’s deep and rapid changes are not a simple case of tinkering round the edges. They are a wholesale dismantling that will change the education landscape as we know it.

“Ever since the 1944 Act, we’ve had a national education service that’s been locally administered. Now, with the advent of academies and free schools, the government is removing the body that’s responsible for administering, servicing, supporting and building our schools. They are allowing each school to operate as an individual satellite, free to set its own teaching standards, curriculum and working conditions, but without any control.”

Turning to the current state of austerity in Britain, Andy Brown said, “In a time of hardship we do our duty. We’re told we’re all in this together. But the squeeze isn’t being felt equally and the cuts aren’t being dealt fairly. This government isn’t treating us all the same and it’s not grasping the nettle by going after those who’ve put us in this mess; it’s going after those they think won’t put up a fight.

“They tell us that our pensions schemes are unsustainable, yet they haven’t even valued them. They just know that by attacking public sector pensions, they can wipe a large chunk off the national deficit.”

He added, “I didn’t join the profession to make money; I joined it to make a difference. I firmly believe that there is no more honourable, noble or privileged a profession than being able to take young minds, hearts and spirits, to engage them and fill them, and to send them on their way as tomorrow’s citizens.

“When I joined our profession, I made an unspoken pact with my state in which I eschewed the financial opportunities of my contemporaries who would earn much more than me in the understanding that my job was a calling, and that I would earn a modestly comfortable salary and then, at the end of my career, I would have a modestly comfortable pension.”

Andy Brown  concluded, “I made that pact in good faith; I trusted my state and now feel betrayed. That trust has been broken.”