Letter: Deluded teachers

Teachers' union NASUWT is threatening to take action over proposed changes to its members' pension scheme (your report, 22 January). The proposal to increase their contributions from 6.4 per cent of their salary to 9.8 per cent has incurred their wrath.

Even at the new figure of 9.8 per cent this will only provide a small contribution towards the value of their final salary pension. I am sure the mathematics teachers can explain the figures to the union officials.

It seems that when the government is constantly drawing attention to its need to reduce the national debt burden, the "black hole" of public sector pension deficit seems to be low, if at all, on its priority list.

Such defined benefit schemes are fast becoming exclusive to the public sector and surely it is not too much to ask that the recipients now bear all the cost of funding them. Finally, perhaps the English teachers could explain the definition of "privileged position" to their union representatives, ie "advantage or favour only a few obtain".

David F Donaldson

Lawers Crescent

Polmont, Falkirk