Head teachers vote to strike over pensions

The National Association of Head Teachers has come out strongly in favour of strike action on the ‘day of action’ on November 30, with 75.8% voting in favour on a 53.6% turnout. The union’s general secretary, Russell Hobby, said: “I have spoken at length to many school leaders and not one has been anything other than upset and sometimes downright angry that they have been forced into this situation as the only way to stand up for the profession and standards. “We welcome the Government’s recent concessions as marking, finally, the start of genuine negotiations. It is sad that it has taken this long, but it is a start. “We would like to avoid action if at all possible and will be negotiating intensely and in good faith in the run up to the 30th. Teachers are already doing their bit to address the economic downturn by accepting a pay freeze and sharing the burdens of a strapped economy along with every other taxpayer. “The pay freeze is saving the Government hundreds of millions. The proposed cuts are unfair, ill thought-through and purely being used to pay for the mistakes of the financial sector.” Strike action would affect all kinds of schools across the country. Ministers say the existing public sector pension schemes are unsustainable and must be reformed.