The average public sector pension is £4000. Hardly gold plated.

Teachers in the state sector get lower pay than in the private knowing that the employer puts in a pension contribution. The combined contribution = 20% of pay.   You have to work 40 years to get a half pay pension.

The teachers pension was reviewed 4 years ago by the Governments chosen actuaries. They altered the terms ( put up the contribution ) and increased the retirement age to 65 to account for increasing longevity. We accepted that.

The teachers want to know what has changed so much in the last 4 years (apart from the bankers playing lotto with everybodies money ) to mean another increase in the contributions? So far, no figures have been produced to substantiate the claims. The negotiations seems to be based on the need to reduce the Government deficit rather than current costings of the scheme.

One third of new entrants to teaching leave within 3 years.

Hope these facts help to elucidate the issue.
FloraG.