On 23 April the conference of the National Union of Teachers voted almost unanimously (two abstentions) for pensions action, with a first day of action on June 30th.
Unfortunately an amendment from AWL teachers to push for a strategy to win, with further strike action before the end of term, including rolling action, and a clear timetable for immediate action in autumn, was manoeuvred off conference floor.
The civil service union PCS is balloting for strike action on pensions from 23 May, and looks set to join the strike on 30 June. The university and college lecturers' union UCU is reported likely to come in on the action, too.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has decided on a strike ballot, which it says will start in May and end in June.
The conference of the NASUWT, the other main teachers' union, also over the Easter weekend, passed a motion saying:
"Conference reasserts its determination to defend public sector pensions and teachers' pensions in particular and commits the National Executive to continue working with the TUC to challenge by all available means, up to and including industrial action, any attempt to worsen the pensions provisions of teachers or other public sector workers". As we understand it, the NASUWT is unlikely to strike on 30 June.
Comments
PCS decision
PCS says that the formal decision on its ballot will be taken at its union conference on 16-18 May, but the union Executive's plans are:
The specific aims of the ballot are:
• No detrimental changes to pensions and the civil service compensation scheme.
• Application and strengthening of the national Protocols on Avoiding Compulsory Redundancy.
• An end to the pay freeze and a fair pay rise for all PCS members.
The ballot and action will be co-ordinated with a number of education unions. The timetable for the ballot is as follows:
• April onwards – preparatory work for ballot, covering legal, membership record integrity, and campaign planning.
• Promotion of the national dispute at the ADC, 16 to 18 May
• Despatch of ballot papers to arrive w/c 23 May, as delegates return after ADC.
• Balloting period w/c 23 May to 15 June
Martin Thomas
NAHT also decides to ballot for a strike, but in the autumn
The BBC reports (1 May):
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) conference in Brighton... voted overwhelmingly to stage a ballot on whether to strike over planned changes to their pensions.
The move was backed by 99.6% of 350 delegates...
The heads plan to ballot in the autumn and any action would quickly follow but the teachers are likely to ballot this term...
Martin Thomas