Teachers at one of the North East’s top private schools are to begin strike action next week in a row over pensions.
Members of the National Education Union working for the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) voted overwhelmingly last month in favour of strike action after the trust announced plans to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
The trust has 25 schools around the country, including Newcastle High School for Girls, which was formed in 2014 by the merger of Church High and Central High.
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The NEU said six days of strike action will take place on February 10, February 23 and February 24. Then March 1, March 2 and March 3.
However Newcastle High School members won't be taking part on February 23 and 24 because it is half term there.
A single formal ballot, which closed last week, resulted in 95% of teacher members at the 23 schools voting in favour of discontinuous strike action on a turnout of 84%.
It will be the first strike action taken there in its 149 year history and picket lines will form on February 10 at the Newcastle High School for Girls entrance on Tankerville Terrace and next to the entrance to the lower school site on Sandyford Road between 7am and 9am.
It is to be followed by a rally at the Holiday Inn, Jesmond.
The Girls’ Day School Trust proposes to remove its teaching staff at these independent schools from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
If this were to go ahead, teachers will be at least 20% worse off on average in terms of the annual amount they receive in pension payments, says the union.
Beth Farhat, Regional Secretary, NEU Northern Region said: “The Girls’ Day School Trust has no justification in its plan to slash the pensions of its teaching staff. This will be a disaster for staff, for future recruitment and for pupils.
“Teachers always take strike action with a heavy heart, which is why this extraordinary mandate should give the Trust, reason to pause.
"Members are angry and determined to defend what is rightfully theirs. These are committed and hard-working staff who have been pushed to the point of taking action, the like of which the Girls’ Day School Trust has never seen. Teachers’ strength of feeling is unwavering.
“Be in no doubt that this is an attack on members’ terms and conditions of employment. The threat of ‘fire and rehire’ before so much as a word of consultation is all the evidence you need.
"It is also telling that the Trust has made no compelling argument to make this change to staff pensions. This is because they do not have one.
"Members will not be waiting for the Trust’s final decision in late February. That will be too late.
"Strike action on 10 February will send a clear message to parents and the wider public that the GDST is taking the wrong path.
"We call on the Council of the Girls' Day School Trust to unconditionally withdraw the proposal to leave the Teachers’ Pension Scheme now, not later. That is the surest way to settle this matter and avert strike action.”
In response, the CEO of GDST, Cheryl Giovannoni, said: "We are disappointed the NEU has called for strike action while GDST Trustees are still considering all of the feedback gathered during the collective consultation.
"This will create disruption for teachers, schools, students and their families.
"We understand the strength of feeling amongst our teachers and their concerns, but the NEU calling the proposed changes a disaster for staff and pupils is not right.
"Teachers are central to the success of the GDST and we value their incredible contribution and dedication to the education of girls in our family of schools.
"We are proposing a strong alternative pension scheme, with a 20% employer contribution into a flexible, defined contribution pension plan alongside other benefits.
"Teachers will also benefit from the GDST's enhanced ability to develop their total reward, including overall remuneration.
"We would not have put forward these proposals unless we felt they were necessary to support the long-term sustainability of the GDST family of schools, enabling us to continue to provide an excellent and affordable education for girls in our schools, and at the same time ensuring our teachers have a comfortable retirement."
