BRADFORD teachers are set to stage a walk-out after two unions overwhelmingly backed strike action over government changes to pensions.
Thousands of members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers endorsed the programme of industrial action in a ballot this afternoon. The unions are concerned that the measures would leave teachers working longer, paying more and receiving less when they retire.
The date of the strike is still to be confirmed, but it could be as early as June 30.
Ian Murch, Bradford's National Executive member of the NUT, said he believed the result of the vote was inevitable.
"It doesn't surprise me because I have been to a lot of schools to talk to people over the last few weeks and there is a very high level of anger.
"We want the government to withdraw its proposals. It's only four years since we agreed to a new teachers' pension scheme that recognised the fact that teachers are like other workers and living longer," he said.
The new pension plans are being implemented throughout the public sector in a bid to save the Treasury millions of pounds. The government insists that any changes will be both fair and affordable.
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