Teachers unions and pensions

Our government is currently trying to reduce the future burden that pensions place on the tax payers of the state. Their attempt this week to reduce the pension entitlements of higher earning civil servants who have not yet even started their careers has been met with an anything but civil response. The INTO for example is threatening legal action over what is claims is larcenous behaviour on the part of the government. I suppose this is what we should expect from a union - they don't have any other function. But this sounds a bit strong for me.
I read a while ago that if a non civil servant earned the same as the typical high court judge throughout their career - i.e. they track the judges pay as it rises from very junior barrister all the way through to judge - they would have to contribute most of their income over their whole career to get the same pension as the judge. Clearly someone has to pay for the pension, but for public servants the attitude seems to be 'as long as that someone is not me'.
In a way it is sad that our leaders have shied away from this problem for so long (as have leaders all over the world). Only now that the cupboard is bare is government getting up the gumption to square up to the bullies. It remains to be seen what will come of it, but the teachers will no doubt want to continue extracting blood from turnip.