The Teachers Strike

Not, that I’m following the issues too closely, Teachers up and down the land have downed tools and gone on strike due to changes in their pension arrangements. Usual beef, the employer (i.e. the government) has decided to tinker with the employees (teachers) pension scheme to save a few quid, probably due to the detriment of the members who now have to work longer to get less.

Employees in the private sector are well used employers shifting the goal posts with regard to their pensions, e.g. increased contributions. The wiser employees, like my good self, have realised that employer pension schemes are pretty pointless as final salary schemes which guaranteed a set retirement income have been closed and the new style ‘stakeholder’ pension schemes are a long-term punt on how buoyant the stock market is when one chooses to retire. I’ve ignored inflation, onerous fund management charges and investment errors perpetuated by inept fund managers.

I can see why the teachers have got the hump. There is a tacit social contract between the teaching profession and the government; you teach, we will pay you slightly lower than the private sector counterparts, but you get a nice pension and cushy holidays. Now this contract has been broken, I would be aggrieved.

Question, would I go on the streets to protest? Not sure. However, this image from today’s protest caught my eye. I know you shouldn’t judge by appearances but if this is indicative of the calibre of the teaching stock in the UK, as a parent I might be abit concerned…

“One happy striker”.