Now teachers threaten chaos for pupils over pay demands
‘Yet they still want more’
TEACHERS yesterday threatened to ballot for nationwide strikes unless they get an ‘inflation-plus’ pay rise this year.
The Left-wing National Education Union declared it will mobilise its 450,000 members in the autumn.
But Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said last night: ‘We have proposed the highest pay awards in a generation for new teachers – 16.7 per cent over the next two years – alongside further pay awards for more experienced teachers.
‘ Young people have suffered more disruption to their education than any generation that’s gone before, and it’s the vital work of teachers that is helping them get back on track. The last thing I – or any parent – want to see is anything that would risk undoing that progress.’
The threatened action could force some schools to close or keep year-groups at home, causing chaos for working parents who will have to find childcare. Struggling pupils are still catching up on work they missed during the months of lockdown.
It is understood the NEU will be lobbying for a pay rise of up to 12 per cent for all teachers. The union rejects a suggested 3 per cent rise.
Last night, critics said pupils’ education had already suffered too much in the pandemic.
Molly Kingsley of parent group UsForThem said: ‘It’s time for bickering adults to get a grip and focus on the pupils who have already lost so much school time over the last two years.’
The Conservative Friends of Education pressure group added: ‘It’s typical that the NEU are agitating for a strike.
‘The starting salary is best it has ever been. Yet still they want more and will hold a child’s education to ransom to achieve it.’
The NEU threat to ballot for strike action came in a letter to Mr Zahawi yesterday which claimed average teacher salaries are at their lowest compared to average earnings across the economy in more than 40 years.
The NEU said ‘unsustainable hours’ and ‘ever-falling pay’ is creating a ‘profound crisis’ in teacher recruitment and retention.
According to the Government’s School Workforce in England Report last year, the average salary for a classroom teacher was £39,000 and £74,100 for a headteacher.