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The National Union of Teachers has begun balloting members in England and Wales, and it seems that a strike over the changes to teacher’s pensions has moved forward significantly. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers will follow suit later on this week.

This could cause disruption to classes for thousands of pupils nationwide, but teaching unions have reached the end of their tether with the government’s proposed changes to teachers’ pensions. The new systems would see teachers working longer, paying more in contributions and receiving less of a payout when they reach retirement. Ballots for the NUT begin on May 17^th, and later on the 20^th of May they will join forces with the ATL, with both ballots closing on June 14^th.

Both unions agreed at their annual Easter conference last month that they would ballot for strike action over the changes, and made their intentions known a few days later. It has been over twenty years since the ATL took industrial action, and the members are aware that this is an unusual situation they find themselves in. General Secretary for the union, Dr Mary Bousted, commented that their members were reluctant to begin strike action, and that they would have gladly taken any other option if it was available. Dr Bousted spoke of their anger and how they agree that ‘they need to take a strong stand now to make the government stop and listen.’ The National Association of Head Teachers is also taking note of its member’s feelings, and will be running a ballot also in the coming weeks.

Far from resolving the situation peacefully, union representatives are aware that anger is growing over what is being seen as an attack on the Teachers Pension Scheme. The teachers feel that they are being made to defend their pension calculators from a government who are determined to make them work longer, pay more, and get less at the end of their working life, already they have had the annual pensions increase cut with no negotiation at all. General Secretary of the NUT, Christine Blower thinks; ‘it is vital that we build the broadest campaign to send a clear message to the government that this is not acceptable.’

Changes to the Teachers pension retirement calculator, have been described as ‘disastrous’ and could lead to many younger professionals turning away from the plan altogether. Industry insiders are worried that the government are not taking negotiations seriously, and won’t be prepared to talk through the terms to find an acceptable solution to the issue.