FDA joins public sector pensions strike
Support for a planned public sector strike on 30 November is increasing, with 81 per cent of FDA union members who took part in a ballot, voting in favour of industrial action.
The FDA union represents senior managers and professionals in the public sector including government policy advisors, economists, solicitors, and members of the NHS.
The planned strike is in protest against changes to public sector pensions, including an increase in pension contributions of up to 2.4% in 2012 and increasing the pension age to align it with the State Pension age, which will eventually rise to 68.
This would mean most employees having to pay a higher rate of contributions within the next three years and having to wait longer to draw their pensions.
All new teachers and the majority of existing staff will be placed on career average schemes in 2015, which will offer a pension based on their average pay over their career.
The proposals, put forward by Lord Hutton in a report earlier this year, also include the possible exclusion of staff in private schools from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
However the Association of Teachers and Lecturers has warned that more than 20 per cent of private school teachers could leave their jobs if independent schools are removed from the TPS.
A further 25 per cent said they would consider leaving the teaching profession altogether according to the Association’s survey of 1,500 independent school teachers.
The ATL has already committed to taking part in the planned one-day strike, along with ten other unions, although the Department for Education says that no decision has yet been taken on private sector access to the public service schemes.
Ten more unions are due to announce the results of their ballots this week.
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