Ministers can and must intervene to stop us striking, insist teachers

UNION leaders today said the Scottish Government had the power to prevent the first national strike by the country’s teachers since the 1980s.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country’s largest teaching union, will begin balloting its members later this month over changes to their pensions.

The union claims the changes will see hard-pressed teachers forced to contribute more as well as having to work longer before they retire.

While pension reform is a matter reserved for the UK government, any changes north of the Border would require the support of the Scottish Government and will be paid for by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

Drew Morrice, assistant secretary of the EIS, said that unlike other areas of the public sector, the Scottish Government did have a say when it came to the level of pension contributions from teachers.

He said: “The Scottish Government does have discretion – they could simply choose not to change the regulations, but what’s clear is that the Treasury will demand the money comes from somewhere. Teachers are being required to contribute more, work longer and get a smaller pension at the end of it – it’s a triple whammy.

“The only thing the Scottish Government could do to prevent a strike is not put in place these planned increases [to pension contributions].”

Changes to the way pensions are calculated will also see teachers receiving less, according to the EIS. A thorough review of teachers’ pay and conditions led by Stirling University’s Professor Gerry McCormac is expected to be announced today.

Teachers have already agreed – at the EIS AGM in June – to take industrial action to resist any deterioration in their conditions of service.

Labour education spokesman Ken Macintosh said: “What teachers expect from the Scottish Government is for them to be straight and tell them whether there is any possibility they will take a different tack from Westminster. They need to put their money where their mouth is.”

Finance secretary John Swinney has previously voiced criticism of Westminster’s approach to public sector pension reform.

Teachers in England have already gone on strike in protest at the changes that are being made.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are in discussions with public sector employers and unions about how to address the proposed pension changes in Scotland.

“No decision has been taken, so any proposals for industrial action are premature and only risk inconveniencing pupils and parents.”

Last month a sub-committee of the EIS recommended balloting its members over the UK government proposals.

Yesterday, a decision by the EIS’s executive committee gave the green light to a formal postal ballot of its members which is set to take place throughout October.

Ballot papers will be sent out to members later this month, and the EIS is recommending its members should vote in favour of strike action, with an initial strike set to take place in November.