Pensions reforms exacerbating teacher welfare crisis

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.”