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horncastle news
WWW.horncastleneWs.co.UK est 1885 tel: 01507 526868 Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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By Alison Sandilands

alison.sandilands@jpress.co.uk

TEAchERS On STRIKE
Why are the teachers striking?
l The Government wants to increase employee contributions by more than 50 per cent from 6.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent of salary. l Depending on how much a teacher earns, they could face deductions of an extra 60 - 100 plus per month. childrens services at the council, said: Schools have been made aware of the councils policy on industrial action and we are providing advice where necessary. Some flexibility will be expected by the schools in order to provide continued education for as many pupils as they can. We expect schools to communicate with parents and carers as soon as possible where there is to be any disruption to their childs education, so that families can make alternative arrangements. While working teachers are concerned about the impact of possible future changes, retired teachers in the area are feeling the pinch of changes already imposed to their pensions. In April this year, the way cost of liv-

GARTREE Community School is closing for the day as teachers go on strike against the Governments pension plans.
They are joining teachers from across the county for the national strike tomorrow (Thursday), called for by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL). As a result, around 30 primary and secondary schools in Lincolnshire are having to close, or partially close. Many teachers are also due to join a rally in Lincoln tomorrow afternoon - beginning at the Lincolnshire Staggs Head, Newport, at 1pm. Teachers are striking because they are unhappy about the prospect of working longer for less money. If proposed pension plans go ahead, the retirement age would increase and they would be faced with paying 50 per cent higher pension contributions. Lincolnshire County Council said it was down to the individual schools to make any provisions in the case of strike action. Debbie Barnes, assistant director of

l The Government plans to tie the normal pension age the age at which you can take your teachers pension in full - to the state pension age. That would compel all teachers aged 33 or less to work until age 68 for a full pension. Older teachers would also be affected - anyone aged 57 or less would have to work to 66 and anyone aged 42 or less to 67. For example, if you are 50 now, the normal pension age would be likely to rise to 66.

ing is worked out to determine pension amounts was changed from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to Consumer Price Index (CPI). This move is believed to leave pensioners out of pocket. A spokesman for the NUT in Lincolnshire said: I know how hard retired teachers are being hit with the change already implemented, which means they will lose thousands. The NUTs retired teachers section in Lincolnshire regularly meet at the Abbey Lodge near Woodhall Spa and have a meeting scheduled there at 12pm tomorrow to discuss pension issues. Gartree Community School did not wish to make a comment.

n-Ice way to enjoy lincolnshire show

county flock to annual lincolnshire show and we were there too. Photo special on pages 12-13

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