Disappointed by low turnout on strike vote

[gordongrumblebum]

We will now be slated across the popular press.

(30% of teachers vote for strike action.)

Maybe taking contributions from the military would help as well. Many of them end up with very good pensions for their zero contributions.

The non-contributory pension is allowed for in the salary - much like everyone else's in the public sector. The difficulty with the Armed forces is that there is no private sector comparator. But they won't be immune from it - the next review for the Armed Forces scheme is 2015 (?) and I expect there will be changes then. But they will continue to be in a somewhat different position because of the occupational need to retire comparatively young, and as the career is based on specified lengths of engagement it's also harder to make direct comparisons.

I think fluffle's idea of redeployment is interesting, but we'd need a government with an entirely different mindset and creative way of thinking to implement that.

I reiterate my point

Teachers

If the pension issue is not sorted now, the kids you teach to follow in your footsteps will get no pension at all.
Are you happy to tell them that?

We have been borrowing from our children (that is what the deficit is after all) for 15 years. Its time we grew up and lived within our means.

TBH - I am getting somewhat tired of people agreeing that there must be changes as long as it doesnt affect them.

Why on earth do teachers believe that they are immune from the changes that are happening everywhere! I had a final salary scheme and just had a change to a career average and now have to work to 65. I am miffed but that's life, we are all living longer and what you pay into a final salary scheme is just not going to cover us all if we live to 100.

I heard one teacher on TV saying that he didnt want to work over 60 in a classrom because he would feel tired!

All this - well 30 years ago we could have retired at 60 is nonsense. Times and live expectance has increased dramatically.

My mother is an ex school teacher. Changed her union so that she didnt need to strike.

I agree with you, Rocky, and I am a teacher.

I am a teacher and I will already be working until 65 - no different to anyone else.

And FWIW my husband is due an equal pension + double my lump sum in his private company.

I don't call £12K pa for 30 year's service a massive pension TBH. No teacher is going to be due a massive pension because of the ceiling on earning potential. I am pissed off with all this 'gold-plated' nonsense.

The turn-out question is surely answered by the fact that the Prime Minister cutting the budgets didn't get a majority. The councils implementing the cuts got elected on 30% ish turnouts. The cuts in general and teachers pensions in particular was not inany manifesto. Those of you who don't strike will be donating your pensions to your Union if they successfully defend your pensions by organising industrial action?