ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the pay award for teachers.

Unions are calling for a substantial and above inflation across-the-board pay award for 2008-11, arguing it is needed to sustain the momentum of education improvements and reforms.

Three teaching unions – the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, NASUWT and PAT - have submitted a joint pay demand for all teaching staff including teachers, leadership groups and heads.

Stakeholder Response: ATL, NASUWT, PAT

"The demand submitted to the School Teachers’ Review Body is for a proposed three-year pay award, from September 2008 to August 2011, currently being discussed by the unions, employers, and Department for Education.

"The joint submission says without an above inflation award the progress of education reform will be eroded, confidence in workforce reform will be undermined, the government's commitment to making teaching more professional will be questioned, and further changes will be jeopardised.

"This next multi-year award must restore and enhance pay levels to reward teachers as highly skilled professionals - if it does not the profession will be seriously destabilised and the continuing drive to raise standards compromised.

"The 2008-2011 pay award needs to be substantial to:

· Sustain recruitment and retention of teachers.

· Further raise education standards.

· Continue improvements to teachers’ morale and motivation.

· Prevent boom and bust approach to teachers’ pay.

· Enable delivery of the government's extensive education changes.

· Continue progress to treating and rewarding teachers and heads as professionals.

· Maintain good industrial relations."

ATL

To send a comment to the ATL click here

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "Without a decent pay award the profession will return to the bad old days of boom and bust and leach teachers to better paid jobs.

"And it’s really important for the morale and motivation of the teaching profession that all staff are treated equally – those in front of the white board as well as those running the school."

PAT

To send a comment to the PAT click here

Philip Parkin, general secretary of PAT, said: "Teachers deserve to be recognised for their hard work and dedication. Without a decent, above inflation pay rise, teachers will face a cut in real terms.

"This would be a retrograde step given the very real progress made in recent years in levels of pay and consequently in recruitment and retention in the profession.

"Teachers should be properly rewarded for their achievements in raising standards and in implementing streams of government initiatives."