Teachers get pay cut in three year deal

5 December 2005

Commenting on the announcement today of a 2.5 per cent rise in teachers’ pay from September 2006, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“This is a standstill award. Teachers’ pay next September when this rise is implemented will be no better than it is today. Hard work and commitment are not recognised in this imposed settlement.

“The profession is struggling to recruit and retain sufficient teachers despite the Government’s introduction of golden handshakes and other measures to tie young people into teaching. They are not working and this standstill award in teachers’ pay will not change that.

“Teachers are graduates. The pay levels available to graduates elsewhere in the economy far outstrip those available in teaching. This award gives no recognition to this fact nor to the hard work and dedication of teachers in schools throughout England and Wales.

“Our teachers deserve better.”