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14 June 2011 -ATL members overwhelmingly vote to strike over fundamental changes to pensions
In the first national strike ballot in its 127-year history, members ATL have overwhelmingly voted to strike about the major changes the government wants to make to their pensions.
78,342 ATL members were eligible to vote in the ballot which ran from Friday 20 May to Tuesday 14 June. 27,563 voted (35%) and of those 22,840 voted to strike (83%), and 4,653 voted against.
Of teachers and lecturers working in state-funded schools and colleges, 62,369 were balloted. 22,230 voted (36%), and of those 18,396 (83%) voted to strike, and 3,785 voted against.
Of teachers and lecturers working in independent schools and colleges, 15,973 were balloted. 5,333 voted (33%), and of those 4,444 (83%) voted to strike, 868 voted against.
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: “This is a warning shot across the bows to the government. When even the least militant education union and teachers working in private schools vote to strike the government would be wrong to ignore it.
15 June 2011- ATL comment on Ofsted’s latest school inspection figures
Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at ATL, said: “It is really pleasing to see that 54% of the weaker schools inspected by Ofsted have been judged to be good or outstanding. It is testimony to the hard work teachers, heads and pupils are putting into their education.”
30 June 2011 - Government is morally responsible for teachers and lecturers striking in England and Wales
The government is morally responsible for the strike among teachers and lecturers in England and Wales because it has consistently failed to negotiate and tried to steam-roller through changes to their pensions.
Dr Mary Bousted said: “It is with deepest reluctance that ATL members working in state and independent schools and colleges in England and Wales will be on strike tomorrow (June 30). Deciding to strike is not a decision we take lightly. This is the first time ATL members will be involved in a national strike in our 127 years.
“For eight months we have tried to get the government to negotiate, but it has consistently refused to do so. It has just kept telling us that teachers’ and lecturers’ pension contributions have to rise by 50%, which amounts to a 3.5% pay cut, and that this would be announced soon after the end of June. It has also insisted that teachers and lecturers must work until they are 68. And it has refused to consult over the change in indexing pensions to CPI rather than RPI which has wiped £20 billion off pension benefits for public sector staff.
“The government has also failed to have the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) valued even though this is supposed to be done every four years. How can it possibly know if the TPS needs extra funding without this information, or whether pensions need to be changed to career average rather than final salary, or whether teachers and lecturers need to work until they are 68?
“We are more than happy to talk about changes when we know the health of the scheme. But we are not happy to allow our pensions to be changed when we know the extra money raised will go to the Treasury. This is simply a tax on teachers.
“The ball has been in the government’s court throughout. If it really didn’t want a dispute it had only to negotiate with us. But it seems the government thought it could steam-roller changes through without any significant opposition. Today our members are using the only method left open to them to tell the government loudly and clearly that they can't do this to us.
“We regret any inconvenience caused to parents, but a one-day strike will have significantly less impact on children’s education than the damage done by making education an unattractive career. If the government’s changes go ahead we risk losing the best graduates to teaching, losing great teachers, lecturers and heads, and causing a recruitment crisis finding school and college heads.
“We’ve deliberately chosen 30 June to avoid exams and the start of school trips and events. We hope parents and the community can understand why we’re taking action as a last resort.”
28 July 2011 - Raising pension contributions is not to protect teachers in retirement, it’s to fill the Treasury’s coffers, says ATL
Dr Mary Bousted said: “Today’s proposed increases in pension contributions have nothing to do with the health of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, which ATL has repeatedly asked the government to value.
“Should a valuation show the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is unhealthy, ATL would make sure that the scheme and the future of our members are protected. In fact, ATL agreed to increased contributions after the last valuation in 2006. However, the government has chosen not to value the scheme, despite a valuation being due in 2010.
“It’s clear that the proposed contribution increases are simply a way of raising money from teachers and lecturers to go to the Treasury, not towards pensions. We don’t think this tax on teachers is fair and our members have already demonstrated their strength of opposition by striking on 30 June.
“ATL is willing to join talks with the government over the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, but little will be achieved unless the government starts an honest debate about the health of the pension scheme.”
1 September 2011 - Government risks creating a lost generation of children as it dismantles state education - ATL president
The government risks creating a lost generation of young people if it continues to dismantle state education, warns the incoming president of ATL.
Lancashire-based teacher, Alice Robinson, who takes over as ATL president today (1 September), said: “The government seems hell-bent on returning to Victorian times when those in education were taught a narrow and rigid curriculum and troublesome children disappeared out of sight.
“Bit by bit the government is dismantling state education and all the safeguards in place to support and protect disadvantaged children.
Alice Robinson asked: “In the government’s vision of conveyer-belt education with targets, tests, and compulsory subjects what will happen to children who don’t fit the mould? What will happen to children who are practical learners or less academic and could succeed in creative or vocational subjects, but who will flounder if they are forced to follow the English Baccalaureate to the letter. Do we really want to send a message to these children that they don’t matter?
“Many children need extra support and attention throughout their childhoods if they are to stand any chance of staying in education and having rewarding careers. It still remains the case that for far too many young people the prospect of a university education or any type of career is akin to climbing Everest.”
14 September 2011 - ATL will be involved in the union day of action on 30 November
Following the announcement by the TUC today that all TUC affiliated public sector unions will hold a day of action on Wednesday 30 November, ATL confirms that it will take part in the day of action.
Dr Mary Bousted said: “ATL will continue to take part in good faith in the sectoral talks with the Department for Education with the hope of achieving a fair deal on pensions for teachers and lecturers.
“We have already agreed, with the other education unions in England and Wales*, that our next campaign action will be a mass lobby of Parliament on 26 October.
“ATL members who are in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in England and Wales voted in June for strike action, and held a one-day strike on 30 June.
“ATL’s National Executive will decide the kind of action members will take on 30 November in the light of the outcome of the negotiations and lobby. This may involve activities such as rallies or lunch time meetings, or a strike if the government refuses to negotiate in good faith.”
16 September 2011- ATL comment on TES survey on discipline in schools
In response to the Times Education Supplement (TES) survey on discipline in schools, Dr Mary Bousted said: “Behavioural problems often stem from very complex issues outside of the classroom and we believe that the use of corporal punishment, which some parents might see as a quick-fix solution, does not work. Teachers already have the power to use reasonable force with pupils if necessary, but unless the interpretation of what is reasonable force is made water-tight and clarified, teachers will continue to risk dismissal from school if they have to intervene to prevent a pupil getting seriously hurt.
“It is encouraging to see that parents recognise the efforts that teachers put in to their profession and appreciate how vital their role is. In fact ATL believes that building mutual respect between pupils and teachers, and encouraging the support of parents in tackling the issues behind poor behaviour, is more likely to lead to long-term positive change.
“ATL also agrees with parents that the qualities of a ‘great teacher’ include the ability to inspire and a passion for their subject. However, these characteristics are often constrained by the requirement to teach to the test, the restrictions of the curriculum and the impact of excessive accountability. The government needs to realise that teachers want the freedom to teach as they see fit, enabling them to engage pupils in learning and reducing the behavioural problems many of them face on a daily basis.”