Oxfordshire independent school staff strike over pensions

  • 23rd January 2025

Staff at Our Lady’s Abingdon, an independent school in Oxfordshire, went on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, following a disagreement over pension arrangements, the Oxford Mail has reported.

37 members of National Education Union (NEU) are taking the action, with further strikes planned on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.

The school is staying open during the strike action.

Our Lady’s Abingdon is a Catholic, co-educational, private day school for pupils aged seven to 18.

In a statement the union said: “Teachers at OLA are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), a government-run scheme which guarantees benefits based on career length and salary.

“All state school teachers and most of those working in independent schools are members of the TPS.

“The school’s governors have proposed changes to the pension arrangements which are unacceptable to the teaching staff.”

The union added that 90% of its members at the school voted in favour of strike action on a 68% turnout.

The NEU’s regional secretary Phil Clarke, said: “We are calling for the governors to drop the use of “fire and rehire” to coerce staff to accept alterations to contracts under threat of dismissal. A voluntary phased withdrawal would be welcomed by staff.

“The NEU has balloted our members and the votes were overwhelmingly for strike action.

“The teaching staff have engaged in good faith with the governors in the consultation process to try to resolve this issue without the need for industrial action.

“NEU members do not engage in this action lightly, but it is clear to them that industrial action is their only resort in this situation.”

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