TEACHERS TO GET PAY RISES
NEWLY-QUALIFIED teachers in Wales are set to receive a 5% pay rise after powers over pay and conditions were devolved last year.
From September 1, there will be a 5% increase to the minimum pay for teachers, with all teachers receiving a 2.75% rise.
Teachers will receive backdated pay in the autumn.
Wales’ Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, has today proposed the increases and her announcement coincides with the publication of the first report of the new Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB), which provided recommendations for teachers’ pay and conditions.
This follows the devolution of powers over salaries last year, to begin in September. Before, they were determined on an England and Wales basis.
The IWPRB recommended that all statutory pay ranges and allowances be increased by 2.4%. In her response, the minister has proposed a higher pay rise for most teachers, of 2.75%.
Mrs Williams has proposed accepting the review body’s recommendation to uplift the minimum pay point on the teachers’ main pay range by 5%.
The pay increases will be subject to an eight-week stakeholder consultation.
Mrs Williams said: “I want to continue to promote teaching as a profession of choice for graduates and career changers.
“That’s why we’re proposing an uplift to the minimum pay point for teachers by 5%, which will help us continue to attract high-quality teachers to the profession.
“I am also proposing a 2.75% pay rise for all school teachers in Wales from September. This will have a positive effect on ensuring we continue to attract high-quality teachers to the profession in Wales, alongside our reforms to professional learning, the curriculum and teacher training.”
The announcement comes as the UK Government is expected to announce an above-inflation wage rise for some public sector workers, the biggest pay award for six years.
The bonanza, understood to be costing £2bn, is expected to be confirmed today, before Theresa May steps down as Prime Minister.
Two million workers will see their pay rise by more than inflation – with public sector workers worried about losing out compared to those in the private sector.
Rises are expected to see police officers given 2.5%, soldiers a 2.9% increase, dentists and consultants 2.5% and senior civil servants 2%. It is thought the rise will come from existing budgets.
The rises do not apply to other public sector staff, such as more junior civil servants and nurses. Their pay is dealt with separately.
Since 2010, both public and private sector workers have seen their average pay rising more slowly than prices.
Unions have attacked the announcement, warning that services will be cut to pay for the increase.
The TUC said that after years of austerity and wage caps, public sector workers are earning “significantly” less in real terms than they were in 2010.
Its analysis shows that a teacher is likely to be earning 12% less in real terms than they were in 2010, while many parts of the public sector are suffering a growing recruitment and retention “crisis”.
The TUC said it does not expect the Treasury to release additional funds to pay for the pay rise and government departments that deliver public services will be asked to fund the rises from within departmental budgets.
The union organisation warned this will mean reduced funding for frontline services, causing greater challenges and stress for staff delivering services on budgets that are already “highly stretched” from a decade of austerity.
The TUC said pay restoration for teachers, nurses, firefighters and other public servants should be a higher priority for the next prime minister than tax cuts for the rich.