NUT calls for double digit pay rise for teachers

In its oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body today, Thursday 16 October, the National Union of Teachers, representing well over half the teaching profession in England and Wales, called for double digit salary increases for all teachers.

Doug McAvoy, NUT General Secretary, told the review body that there is a 12 per cent pay gap between the starting salary for teachers and other graduates which widens to 23.4 per cent after three years.

“Since 1992 teachers’ pay has worsened relative to non-manual workers and an increase of 8 per cent is needed simply to restore the position. The Review Body should assert its independence and reject the Government’s call for:

• a limit of 2.5 per cent on salary increases for teachers;

• a two or three year pay settlement;

• rationing of teachers’ progress on the Upper Pay Spine.
  
  

“In particular, the Review Body should resist Government pressure to limit increases because of the financial crisis affecting schools.

“It is vital that the Review Body asserts its independence. If it caves in to Government pressure and recommends a multi-year settlement limited by the financial crisis which is of the Government’s own making, it will condemn teachers to an increase no greater than inflation and much lower than increases in average earnings.

“It will penalize teachers and through them pupils for the financial incompetence of the Education Secretary. It will make teaching less attractive and will cause teachers to be further demoralized.

“To do this for one year would be harmful. To apply the government’s constraints for three years would be catastrophic.”

For further information contact:
Olive Forsythe
Tel: 020 7380 4706 (office) 020 8313 1692 (weekday evenings)
or if all else fails Tel: 07879 480061.