EIS Condemns education committee decision on pensions

Created on: 26 Mar 2013 | Last modified: 16 Nov 2015

The EIS has condemned today's decision by the Scottish Parliament's Education and Culture Committee not to oppose a further increase in the pension contributions paid by Scotland's teachers and lecturers.

The Committee's decision - by 5 votes to 4 - to support the Scottish Government's imposition of this additional austerity tax on teachers will result in yet another year of significant real-terms pay decline for Scotland's teaching professionals.

Commenting following the result of the Committee vote, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said:

"It is extremely disappointing that the Education Committee has backed the Scottish Government's imposition of this Coalition Government designed tax raid on Scottish teachers and lecturers.”

"As was highlighted during the debate, the EIS has been engaged in long-running talks with the Scottish Government in an attempt to reach a fair negotiated agreement on the future design of the teachers' pension scheme.”

"It is wrong for the Scottish Government, even while these talks continue, to simply press ahead with the imposition of an unwarranted teacher-tax which is part of a damaging UK government policy that the Scottish Government claims to oppose."

"With the EIS ballot on possible further industrial action on pensions closing today, the Scottish Government will soon learn how Scotland's teachers truly feel about their actions on pensions."

"Even at this late stage, and given the very close vote at Committee today, the EIS would urge the Scottish Government to consider the alternatives to increased pension contributions that teacher unions have identified during discussions."

(ENDS)

Further information: Brian Cooper on 0131 225 6244 or bcooper@eis.org.uk