Pension reforms forcing teachers to pay more and work longer
before they can retire are exacerbating the wellbeing and welfare
crisis in teaching, representatives at the Annual Conference of
the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union have argued today.
Teachers at the conference in Glasgow have condemned the
Government’s failure to address public sector pension
deficiencies and to make teachers pay the cost by pushing up the
age at which teachers can access both their occupational and
state pensions.
At a time when more and more teachers are experiencing burnout,
stress and depression as a result of the failure of Governments
and employers to take effective action to bring downward pressure
on workloads and working hours, the extension of the pension age
is leaving older teachers to choose between financial hardship
and their health.
The NASUWT is demanding public sector pension schemes are
rectified to allow workers access to their pensions without
punitive reductions.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“Over the last decade, teachers have seen the value of their
pensions cut whilst their workloads and the cost of living have
continued to surge.
“The age at which teachers can access their pensions without any
actuarial deductions has been ratcheted up, with further
increases planned.
“The increasing demands being heaped on teachers have left many
having to make an impossible choice towards the end of their
careers-take early retirement to protect their health but lose a
hefty chunk of their pension or attempt to battle on in the job,
undermining their health and wellbeing in the process.
“We need both a pensions system that offers greater fairness and
flexibility to teachers as they reach the later stages of their
careers and also a contractual limit on teachers’ working hours
that helps to enhance and maintain teachers’ physical and mental
health throughout their working lives.”
