Why we are balloting The Government has decided you should pay more, work longer and get less during your retirement Pensions are deferred pay – so this is another pay cut We saw off threats to our pensions in by being prepared to take action Vote YES in the ballot and get other members to vote YES if you want a decent pension

Why ballot now? To change the Government’s mind before they impose further changes to our pensions They aren’t negotiating in good faith: Change from RPI to CPI indexation already made They want to finalise the 50 per cent rise in contributions by June They want to break our 2006 agreement on how our pensions would be reviewed in future Delaying now means no action starting until November when it might be too late!

Why the ballot will have an effect The Union has made a reasoned case to the Government – it’s vital that the Government now sees our strength of feeling ATL has also agreed to ballot members for strike action and UCU has already held a successful ballot Our action can be joint action involving the vast majority of teachers - we are not alone!

Pay more The Government wants to increase your contributions by more than half - from 6.4 per cent to as much as 9.8 per cent The effect of an increase to 9.8 per cent: up to £61 per month for NQ teachers up to £102 per month for UPS3 teachers Possibility of tiered contributions – higher paid teachers might have to pay even more

Work longer Linking pension age to State pension age: The pension you accrue in future would only be available in full at State pension age Under 34? Work till 68 for a full pension Aged 34 to 42? Work till 67 Aged 43 to 57? Work till 66 Effect of pension age increasing to 66: If you’re 50 and on UPS3 and you still retire at 60, you’d lose £1,300 a year from pension and £4,000 from lump sum

Get less Change from RPI to CPI indexation - already imposed from April 2011: Costs a teacher on the average £10,000 pension more than £35,000 over a 25-year retirement Proposed move to “career average” not “final salary”: Pension based on pay across whole career Career average has been used to cut pensions in the private sector

What will I lose? Use the NUT pensions calculator at to see: How much you’ll lose from your take home pay How long you’ll have to work for your full pension How much you’ll lose from your pension if you nevertheless retire at the current pension age How much you’ll lose in total, over a 25 year retirement, due to the cut in your pension and the switch from RPI to CPI indexation

What we want The NUT is calling for the Government to do the following: Withdraw the RPI/CPI switch already imposed Withdraw its proposals to increase contributions and pension ages Carry out the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (a year overdue) on the same basis as it has been carried out previously Honour the 2006 agreement and use it to discuss and decide changes if any are needed A successful ballot will strengthen our hand in our negotiations

What you can do Arrange or attend workplace meetings – open to all - to discuss the issues Promote the NUT pensions calculator at to see the impact of the changes – can be used in workplace meetings! Recruit any non union members to the NUT using the free membership offer Call the NUT ballot hotline if you don’t receive your ballot paper – tell your colleagues about it too Work with ATL reps and members Help build Union activity to ensure biggest possible YES vote in the ballot and successful strike action