More teachers vote for pensions strike ballot

Headteachers have voted overwhelmingly to ballot for strike action over pension cuts. At the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers 99.6% voted for a ballot, while 0.4% abstained.

They join other teaching unions NUT and ATL, who are likely to strike at the end of June over the same issue, probably with the lecturers' union UCU and civil service union PCS.

NASUWT members should be demanding a strike ballot as well, so they can prepare to join the action.

Mike, a young teacher and NUT member from east London explains why strike action is necessary: "I'll be Ł230,000 worse off under the proposed scheme if I have taken my pension for 25 years, and will no doubt have to use a Zimmer frame while teaching at the grand old age of 68, if I can reach the chalkboard or control a class of highly energetic 16 year olds.

"I will be paying an extra Ł84 each month in contributions (this amounts to over Ł33,000 over 38 years) which will not help me to pay off my student debt, nor get a deposit for a flat. Pay much more, work more, get much less, I won't pay for the bankers' profligacy with my pension!"

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