TEACHERS at a private school have been striking for two days over planned changes to their pensions.

Staff at Brighton Girls are protesting against a move that they say could see their pensions slashed.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) picketed the school, in Temple Gardens, Brighton.

They also travelled to Parliament Square, London, on Wednesday, with Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

The Argus: Members of the NEU in Parliament Square, London on ThursdayMembers of the NEU in Parliament Square, London on Thursday

The trust which runs the school is moving to delist its staff from the Teaching Pensions Scheme (TPS).

The union says this will be a “disaster” for its members.

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) faced the first strike in its 149-year history.

Liz Ritson, Brighton and Hove secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The NEU and its teacher members at Girls' Day School Trust's independent schools are gravely disappointed, and greatly angered by the decision of trustees to pursue a plan to remove them from the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

 

“It is unjustified, it is unwarranted, and it will not stand."

The TPS is a pension scheme paying a guaranteed income in retirement, reflective of a teacher’s earnings during their career.

A move away from the scheme could put teachers' pension plans in jeopardy, the union fears.

The NEU says the trust’s reason for moving away from the pension scheme is due to a 43 per cent employer contribution. 

However many members feel leaving the TPS would be a “deal-breaker”.

The union has a history of reversing similar decisions, as members in over 60 independent school have successfully convinced their employer not to leave the TPS.

“A move away from the TPS will be a disaster for recruitment and for learning. If the employer is truly listening then it is in their gift to bring this dispute to an end quickly, by thinking again," added Liz.

 

“Short term financial sweeteners offer no compensation for the long-term security of the TPS. To avert further strikes the plan must be abandoned completely and unconditionally."

MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, said: “The proposal to leave the TPS by the leadership of Brighton Girls and other independent schools is one that is going to hurt their staff.

"No worker wants to go on strike and it is a last resort for industrial disputes. 

"These teachers care about the work that they do and want to get back to work, so I hope management will climb down from their harmful position.”

Responding to the protests, a spokeswoman from the GDST said: “Continued membership of the TPS would prevent the GDST from having control over its finances and developing the total reward it can provide to its staff, including pay rises.

“The Trustees have acted to ensure that, in line with the GDST charitable mission, jobs and schools are protected.

“We care deeply about our teachers and would not have put forward these proposals unless we felt they were absolutely necessary to support the long-term sustainability of the GDST family of schools, enabling us to continue to provide an excellent and affordable independent education for our students, and at the same time offering teachers a comfortable retirement.”

The Trust says it has now put forward an updated offer.