Teachers turn down pay rise of up to 9% as strikes loom

‘Original proposal is untenable’

TEACHING strikes moved a step closer yesterday after union bosses rejected the government’s pay offer.

Nadhim Zahawi is said to have asked the Treasury to give 130,000 teachers in england who are in the first five years of their careers pay rises of up to 9 per cent.

This forms part of plans to raise starting salaries to £30,000. The education Secretary is also suggesting an increase of 5 per cent for the remaining 380,000 teachers, rather than 3 per cent as planned.

He has written to chancellor Rishi Sunak with the proposals, according to The Daily Telegraph. The move was designed to stave off strike action in the autumn, threatened by the National education Union (NEU) and the NASUWT.

However, both unions yesterday rejected the figures, with the NASUWT claiming the general 5 per cent rise ‘doesn’t come close’ to what is needed, having previously asked for 12 per cent.

Leaders are also angry that details have been leaked, instead of being discussed ‘directly’ with the unions.

NEU general secretary Dr Mary Bousted told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme yesterday: ‘If we don’t receive a very much better offer, we will be looking to ballot our members in the autumn term, in October.’ She also said attempts to ‘divide’ teachers may spur strikers on.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: ‘It is now very clear that the government’s original proposal to the pay body is untenable. To avert a major recruitment and retention crisis in leadership, government must act to protect salaries from rising inflation.’

Meanwhile overstretched supply agencies have warned there are not enough workers to cover gaps if teachers go on strike. This could force some schools to close or keep year groups at home, causing problems for working parents.

Struggling pupils are still catching up on work they missed during months of lockdown and could fall further behind if lessons are cancelled. Mr Zahawi is believed to be the first Cabinet minister to challenge the Chancellor over his calls for pay restraint amid fears that high salary increases could further fuel inflation.

His figures are only slightly higher than the Department for education’s proposal to the School Teachers’ Review Body this year: a twoyear pay award of 8.9 per cent, and then 7.1 per cent, to starting salaries.

More experienced teachers would receive pay rises of 3 per cent this year, and 2 per cent in 2023 – which unions said was too low, given that inflation hit a 40year high of 9.1 per cent in May.