NUT members support the Union’s position on pensions

NUT Press Release - 31 January 2012

93% of NUT members agree that the NUT is right not to sign up to the Government's proposals to cut teachers' pensions and agree that the NUT must continue to seek further improvements.

In a survey of over 11,000 NUT members, 90% agreed that teachers should not have to work until they are 68 for a full pension. Teachers over 50, who are best aware of the pressures of teaching for older teachers, agree even more strongly.

90% believed that teachers should not be made to pay an average 50% extra for their pensions, especially at a time of a pay freeze.

Almost 90% think that their pensions should be increased in line with RPI inflation and that indexation should not be cut to the lower CPI inflation rate.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:

“This survey shows that NUT members do not accept the Government's arguments for reducing teachers’ pensions. They do not accept this race to the bottom, cutting public sector pensions in the same way as private sector pensions have already been cut.

“The NUT will continue to campaign for teachers’ pensions and a Fair Pension for All."