Teachers Threaten to Strike Over Pension Reforms

Schools across England and Wales could close for a day during the summer term as a result of proposed strike action by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. At the heart of the dispute is the proposed pension reforms for public sector workers outlined in the Hutton report, under which employees would be required to retire later and contribute more towards their pensions.

Finally salary schemes will be replaced by a new scheme of payments based on average career earnings. Ministers will also be given greater scope to raise employee contributions. The retirement age for public sector workers will be raised from 60 to 66 by 2020. The ATL has some 80,000 members at schools across England and Wales and they will be given the opportunity sometime in May to vote for a day of industrial action in protest against the reforms.