Teachers at the GDST group of 23 schools have voted in favour of strike action over planned changes to their pensions.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 84 per cent, over plans to leave the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).
The NEU has said that leaving the TPS could mean teachers affected could be 20 per cent worse off on average.
Potential dates for discontinuous strike action are still to be decided, the union said. Any strike action would be the first in the GDST’s 149-year history.
A statement on the NEU website says: “Teachers have seen a steady decline in their standard of living over several years with pay increases below inflation, including a pay freeze last academic year. If they were to lose the Teachers’ Pension Scheme as well, their pay and remuneration would be significantly worse than local state schools.
“Financial accounts for the Trust, in the public domain, show Trust finances in good health. There is a healthy annual cash surplus. The Teachers’ Pension Scheme, which is a contractual right of GDST teachers, is affordable.
“However, the Trust wish to spend heavily on capital expenditure at the expense to their teachers and leaders.
“Staff are also angry that their employer has threatened them with a policy of ‘fire and rehire’ to drive these changes through.
In November, SMP reported that 280 independent schools have already left the pension scheme since the employer’s contribution rose from 16.48 per cent to 23.68 per cent in 2019.