Transcript NOW IS THE TIME! - National Union of Teachers

Why we are planning to take
action on 30 November
• The Government still wants you to pay more,
work longer and get less during retirement
• Despite the Government’s claims, our
pensions are affordable
• This is the next step in our joint campaign,
following the successful strike action on 30
June and the lobby on 26 October
• Join hundreds of thousands – even millions –
of public sector workers in showing we
oppose the Government’s plans
Pay more, work longer, get less
• Increased contributions
• A 50% rise, from 6.4% to an average 9.6%, starting in 2012
• Higher normal pension ages
• Under 34? Work till 68 for a full pension
• Aged 34 to 42? Work till 67
• Aged 43 to 57? Work till 66
• A lower pension at retirement
• Lower accrual rate – 1/65, no lump sum
• Career average, less for every teacher
• Further losses in retirement
• CPI inflation link takes £35,000 from teachers with the
average £10,00 pension
What will I lose?
• Use the NUT pensions calculator at
www.teachers.org.uk/pensions to see:
• How much you’ll lose from your take home pay
• How long you’ll have to work for your full pension
• How much you’ll lose from your pension if you
nevertheless retire at the current pension age
• How much you’ll lose in total, over a 25 year
retirement, due to the cut in your pension and the
switch from RPI to CPI indexation
• Get members to use it too!
Are our pensions affordable?
• Yes - we’ve already agreed to reforms that
followed our agreement in 2006!
• Reliable sources show the costs are already
falling as planned
• We’ve agreed to pay more – but only if the
increase is justified, not to help pay the
costs of the recession
• Teachers’ pensions aren’t “gold plated”
• Continuing our campaign will strengthen our
hand in our negotiations
The real pensions problem
• The private sector
• Two-thirds of workers have no scheme
• 90% of final salary schemes are closed
• Employers’ contributions cut by more than half
• The result – higher costs to the State and
future taxpayers
• Cutting public sector pensions just makes
everyone poorer in retirement
• We need decent pensions for all!
What you can do
• Arrange a workplace meeting – open to all - to
discuss the issues
• Ask colleagues to sign the joint union petition
• Show them how they’ll suffer from the changes - use
the NUT pensions calculator at your meeting
• Recruit any non union members to the NUT - use the
free membership offer
• Work with other unions’ reps and members
• Build NUT activity to ensure successful strike action
• Encourage colleagues to attend the nearest rally on
30 November
• Good luck and thanks!