FAIR PAY FOR TEACHERS

THE ISSUES
Teachers’ pay increases were well below inflation in 2006 and 2007. This has meant real terms pay cuts - teachers have lost up to £1000 and rising.
The Government has ruled out backdated pay increases for 2006 and 2007. Now it threatens teachers with a 2 per cent pay limit for 2008-2011.

PRIVATE SECTOR PAY
There is no two per cent limit in the private sector. Average earnings are rising by 4.3 per cent. Chief executives’ pay is up by 37 per cent, reaching 100 times average earnings, while bonus payments are up 30 per cent this year to £14 billion pounds.

FAIR PAY FOR TEACHERS…
The NUT thinks teachers’ pay should be sufficient to recruit and retain a quality workforce and avoid teacher shortages. It should be comparable to that of other graduate professionals. There should be no cuts in living standards.

Instead, teachers have suffered pay cuts in real terms every year since 2005 and now face threats of further below-inflation pay increases for 2008 to 2011.
Teachers’ pay is already lower than other professional workers. Starting pay is below other professions and pay progression is slower.
The Government threatens to create a return to “boom and bust” in teachers’ pay.

A BREACH OF TRUST
The Government and STRB agreed a pay review mechanism for 2006 and 2007 in case inflation averaged 3.25%+ over 12 months.
Inflation averaged 3.7 per cent. The Government refused the STRB a remit for 2006 & 2007, telling it to reflect its concerns in 2008 recommendations.
The NUT has called on the STRB to act independently. Its report is awaited.

IF PAY HAD ONLY MATCHED INFLATION…
NQTs’ starting pay would be £700 a year higher. Experienced teachers would be earning over £1000 more and primary heads over £1500 more. Cumulative pay losses are far higher - UPS3 teachers have lost over £2000 and this figure is rising.

2008 AND BEYOND
The Government’s public sector pay limit means it wants to limit teachers’ pay increases to 2 per cent for 2008 to 2011. Other public sector workers have already faced a 2 per cent limit in 2007.

THE NUT’S CAMPAIGN
The STRB’s report on teachers’ pay was due in November 2007.
The TUC has agreed to oppose the 2 per cent limit and “co-ordinate a joint campaign of opposition … including co-ordinated joint industrial action”.
The NUT plans to ballot members later this term. You should vote YES when the ballot takes place. In the meantime, visit www.teachers.org.uk - tell your story about how your living standards are being harmed and use the facility to email your MP.