Press Release

YOUNG TEACHERS

19 May 2008

Commenting on Ed Balls concerns about young teachers, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;
 
“While the Government is right to look at how to improve many aspects of teachers first years in the profession what they cannot ignore is the question of pay.
 
“This message was reinforced by the one day strike action on the 24th April which saw large numbers of young teachers join the rallies and meetings around the country. It brought home just how difficult it was for those teachers starting out in their careers to cope financially. Real term pay cuts hit young teachers the hardest. Not only do they have to contend with high housing costs, fuel bills and escalating food prices they also have to pay back student loans at 4.8%.

“Our message that 2.45% was a pay cut in any ones money is a message that can no longer be ignored. There is no doubt that the Government has been put on the back foot in its defence of the CPI as an accurate measure of inflation in contrast to the RPI.
 
“Unless this pressing issue is addressed teacher recruitment will continue to decline. You can’t run a world class education system if teaching becomes an unattractive profession”.