Lesson for EIS

Donnie Mcdonald’s rant against the selfserving Etoneducated inflicting misery

and hardship upon teachers in their quest to get “decent wages” (Letters, 22 November) isinteresting.

Whilst his exasperation pours from every word, let me assure him that wages in many areas of the private sector have likewise been depressed and in many cases continue to be. This is out of economic necessity where such private businesses need to produce profits in order to fund future investment and to remain in existence. Not a situation commonly encountered by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

Mr Mcdonald has, after all, been fortunate enough to work in a profession where he has had little chance of facing redundancy or the sack. As he is in the twilight of his career he can, doubtless, look forward to a comparatively comfortable final salary pension where the totality of his personal contributions would barely cover a fraction of the true cost of funding it.

Perhaps we could concede the teachers’ 10 per cent demands and at the same time refund all of their personal pension contributions and allow them, thereafter, to fund their own pensions. The savings to the public purse would, I surmise, be significant.

DAVID F. DONALDSON

Lawers Crescent, Polmont