GMB members working for teaching union NASUWT voted today to strike as a “last resort” to defend collective bargaining rights and their pension schemes.

The group of workers will be striking on October 17, November 5 and November 9 after 87.6 per cent of workers voted for strike action on an 80 per cent turnout.

New changes in the NASUWT pension scheme have caused concern from workers that they will have to work for 45 years to fund a half-salary pension.

The dispute also involves a three-year pay deal that was imposed on workers by management, which effectively removed the ability of the GMB’s membership to negotiate a “re-opener clause” and to collectively bargain for a real solution.  

The union says that it has consulted closely with members on these proposals, but that NASUWT management have refused to budge.

GMB organiser David Warwick said the union is “very disappointed” that senior management in NASUWT are “not willing to engage in meaningful discussions” to resolve the dispute by making improvements to the proposals on the pay and pension.

“Instead they are quite willing to allow NASUWT employees to take industrial action,” he said.

“Meetings have been taking place across the country with GMB members who have expressed their anger and disappointment with the senior management team of the NASUWT.

“As a last resort, GMB members are now willing to take industrial action to prevent cuts to their pension scheme and to protect their rights to collective bargaining.”

NASUWT was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.