Pension cuts may spark first teacher strike in 30 years

Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) are "outraged" teachers must pay a 3.4% increase in pension contributions by 2014. They say the government should have waited until the outcome of an independent report by Lord Hutton into public sector pensions, and should reassess the value of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) before making any changes. Hutton's interim report in October said civil servants' pensions were unfair, and suggested increasing contributions and a move away from final salary schemes as the best reforms. His report on public sector pensions is due...