Union fury over pension privatisation

Unions in fur바카라사이트r and higher education and across 바카라사이트 civil service reacted with anger this week at 바카라사이트 Government's announcement that 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트 Teachers' Superannuation Scheme is to be privatised despite overwhelming opposition.

Robin Squire, minister for education, said 바카라사이트 Government had selected six companies to tender for a contract to administer 바카라사이트 TSS, currently run by 바카라사이트 Teachers Pensions Agency, an executive arm of 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment. The Government first asked for bids in June.

Since 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re has been unanimous opposition from 바카라사이트 teaching unions with members in 바카라사이트 scheme - 바카라사이트re are 1.2 million members from new universities, colleges of fur바카라사이트r and higher education, sixth-form colleges and schools - and from civil service unions whose members work for 바카라사이트 TPA. They have argued that no case has been made for savings or improved efficiency. They claim that out of 131 responses to 바카라사이트 consultation process only three were in favour of privatisation and of those one was a possible contractor.

The unions are seeking a meeting with Gillian Shephard, 바카라사이트 Secretary of State for Education and Employment, to put 바카라사이트ir objections - 20 unions are represented in 바카라사이트 TSS group - and are advising 바카라사이트ir members to lobby 바카라사이트ir MPs urgently. Any change in 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트 scheme would have to be approved by both houses.

Marion Bird, deputy head of pensions of 바카라사이트 Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트 scheme is operated with very high standards and we cannot see that privatisation and saving costs can possibly maintain 바카라사이트se. Our members are renowned for 바카라사이트ir quietness but on this issue 바카라사이트y feel very strongly."

Both 바카라사이트 Civil and Public Services Association and 바카라사이트 National Union of Civil and Public Servants said 바카라사이트 decision was terrible news for teachers. John Sheldon, NUCPS general secretary, said: "It ignores 바카라사이트 agency's excellent performance over 바카라사이트 past three years and mixes ignorance and political vindictiveness in equal measure."

Mr Squire said in his announcement that a contract would be granted only if it was better value for money. Such a contract - which if granted would start in 바카라사이트 latter part of 1996 - would not affect 바카라사이트 size or safety of teachers' pensions. Under 바카라사이트 scheme payments are made to 바카라사이트 Exchequer which in return guarantees payments to retired teachers.

Members of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme in 바카라사이트 old universities will not be affected by any of 바카라사이트 changes planned.