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Teachers' unions 'may consider further pensions action' | Teachers' unions 'may consider further pensions action' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Teachers' unions that held strikes over pensions in June have warned they may take further action in the autumn if the government stance does not change. | Teachers' unions that held strikes over pensions in June have warned they may take further action in the autumn if the government stance does not change. |
On Tuesday, Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander said negotiations with public sector unions had been "constructive" and announced talks on individual pension schemes. | On Tuesday, Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander said negotiations with public sector unions had been "constructive" and announced talks on individual pension schemes. |
But the ATL teachers' union said "very little" had been achieved. | But the ATL teachers' union said "very little" had been achieved. |
They say the government is refusing to discuss key points. | They say the government is refusing to discuss key points. |
The three unions that carried out strikes in England and Wales on 30 June - the Association of Lecturers and Teachers, the National Union of Teachers and University and College Union - said in a statement they remained committed to a negotiated solution. | The three unions that carried out strikes in England and Wales on 30 June - the Association of Lecturers and Teachers, the National Union of Teachers and University and College Union - said in a statement they remained committed to a negotiated solution. |
But they warned: "If government will not budge from its current position those trade unions who have already taken action will, with regret, need to consider taking further industrial action in November." | But they warned: "If government will not budge from its current position those trade unions who have already taken action will, with regret, need to consider taking further industrial action in November." |
Martin Johnson, deputy general secretary at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said the government was "trying to put a positive political spin" on talks with the Trades Union Congress, despite "very little" being achieved. | Martin Johnson, deputy general secretary at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said the government was "trying to put a positive political spin" on talks with the Trades Union Congress, despite "very little" being achieved. |
ATL says the government is continuing to refuse to discuss major points of its proposed changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. | ATL says the government is continuing to refuse to discuss major points of its proposed changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. |
These including plans to raise the retirement age to 66 and then 68, and the target of £2.8bn savings per year from public sector pensions by 2014-15 - which the union says is "arbitrary". | These including plans to raise the retirement age to 66 and then 68, and the target of £2.8bn savings per year from public sector pensions by 2014-15 - which the union says is "arbitrary". |
'Disappointing' | 'Disappointing' |
On Tuesday, Mr Alexander said that pension contribution rises would go ahead as planned in 2012-13. | On Tuesday, Mr Alexander said that pension contribution rises would go ahead as planned in 2012-13. |
But he said there would be talks on finding other ways, rather than contribution rises, to find further savings in the subsequent two years. | But he said there would be talks on finding other ways, rather than contribution rises, to find further savings in the subsequent two years. |
Previously, ATL said it had been told teachers' contributions would rise from 6.4% to 9.8% by 2015. | Previously, ATL said it had been told teachers' contributions would rise from 6.4% to 9.8% by 2015. |
The three unions also said they believed there was a "real danger that the government may impose an arbitrary and unfair ceiling" on spending on teachers' pensions. | The three unions also said they believed there was a "real danger that the government may impose an arbitrary and unfair ceiling" on spending on teachers' pensions. |
"In our view, without real negotiations on this key issue, these talks will be a sham," they said in a statement. | "In our view, without real negotiations on this key issue, these talks will be a sham," they said in a statement. |
Some 12,000 schools in England and Wales were closed or partially closed as teachers joined other public sector workers in large-scale strike on 30 June. | Some 12,000 schools in England and Wales were closed or partially closed as teachers joined other public sector workers in large-scale strike on 30 June. |
Education Secretary Michael Gove said it was "disappointing and unnecessary" as discussions on pensions were still going on. | Education Secretary Michael Gove said it was "disappointing and unnecessary" as discussions on pensions were still going on. |
The government says changes to public sector pensions are necessary to make the schemes sustainable and affordable as life expectancy rises. | The government says changes to public sector pensions are necessary to make the schemes sustainable and affordable as life expectancy rises. |
It says the rationale for the changes was clearly laid out by Lord Hutton in his review of public sector pensions published earlier this year. |
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