10:51am Wednesday 28th March 2012
By Nina Massey
STRIKING teachers have led to the closure of 17 schools in Greenwich.
Fifteen of the borough’s primary schools and two secondary schools will remain shut for the whole day, and a number of others partially closed, as teachers take action over the government’s pension plans.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) and the National Union say the proposals will make them pay more, work longer for their pensions and get less in retirement.
Bishop John Robinson, Cardwell and Meridian are some of the primary schools closed by industrial action. Visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk for a full list of schools and their statuses.
The National Union of Teachers’ general secretary Christine Blower said: "Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith and which the Government has shown no evidence that they are either unsustainable or unaffordable.
"No teacher wants to be in this position. Pension increases are just an extra tax on teachers, when the top rate of tax is being cut. It is the Government’s intransigence and total disregard of the facts that has forced teachers to continue with this action."
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/trade_directory/