A TEACHERS' strike over pensions planned planned for the first week of the school term has been called off.

The action has been put on ice as the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers looks at forming a coalition with other unions over new rules for public sector pensions which, it is claimed, would leave teachers worse off.

The teachers were set to hold a ballot about holding a day of industrial action on Friday, September 10, after 80 per cent of teachers said they would be prepared to strike.

Bolton NUT representative Barry Conway said: "We are keeping up the pressure. We think this is an extremely important issue that affects public service workers right across the country.

"We are not going to let the Government off the hook. We'll just have to see how things pan out."

NUT chiefs are meeting TUC officials in London to discuss the possibility of joint industrial action with other unions.

A strike later on in the school year has not been ruled out. Letters have been sent to NUT members in the borough explaining the situation.

Under reforms for public sector pensions, the pension age would be raised to 65 across the board.

A number of guarantees would be given to teachers, which would include:

Current members of the scheme aged 60 on or before August 31, 2013, would not be affected by changes to the existing pension arrangements;

Pension benefits earned before the new arrangements start would not be affected;

Teachers would still be able to retire at, before or after 60 as they do now. At retirement, pension and lump sum benefits will take account of the number of years of service the teacher has worked before and after the changes were introduced.

The Government says the reforms are designed to reflect increased life expectancy and the fact many people want to work longer and build up higher pensions.