Pay Pegged at 2.45% – Inflation Hits 5%

Pay Pegged at 2.45% – Inflation Hits 5%

Welcome back to school. We wish all teachers success, especially those in a first post. Good luck with your new classes and new challenges.

For the past year the National Union of Teachers has carried out its duties as both trade union and professional association.

REAL PAY CUT
The Government’s own flawed descriptor of inflation now stands at 4.4 per cent although the real measure, RPI, stands at 5 per cent whilst pay is pegged at 2.45 per cent. We have warned of the dangers of eroding teachers’ pay and the effect this would have on recruitment to the profession. This is now a stark reality.

DUTY CALLS
The NUT has a duty to warn. It has a duty to act. We have stated, repeatedly, that no union could be expected to stand idle whilst its members suffered.
The STRB has just produced figures showing that teachers’ workload has increased. Teachers are being expected to do more work for less pay. Recognising this, the NUT Executive on 5 September 2008, took the decision to ballot to seek members’ views on strike action as part of a continuing campaign, Fair Pay For Teachers.

PROTECTION
The NUT has a duty to protect its members, indeed all teachers. We do this, day in and day out. We represent. We ensure justice at work. We speak up for teachers to governing bodies and Government. We assert teacher professionalism. Our vision is of a good local school for every child and for every community. We organise, without respite, to secure that aim.

THE BALLOT
The NUT never embarks on a course of industrial action lightly. If the Government continues to hold down teachers’ pay the effects will be felt, not only by teachers,
but by children as recruitment to teaching suffers.

Facts on Pay and Inflation

Your pay increase =2.45%

Inflation = 5%


Effects in recruitment
•?Private sector pay rises are higher – almost 4% on average. Recruitment to teaching is falling.

Your pay losses
•?Inflation has cut NQTs’ real starting pay by over £1000. It has cut UPS3 teachers’ pay by more than £2000 – they will have lost over £4000 in total by the end of this school year.

Workload
•?Teachers are doing more work for less money. Last year teachers’ working hours went up in primary schools and secondary schools alike.

Price Increases

Bread - +20%

Electricity - +12.6%

Gas - +12.9%

Petrol and oil - +26.4%

Why the NUT ballots
1?The NUT is a democratic union which consults and acts in concert with its members.
2?We are balloting to step up pressure to change Government pay policy.
3?Strike action is a last resort. But we will not stand by while teachers’ living standards worsen and recruitment to the profession wanes.

Acting General Secretary Christine Blower says:

“Thank you for taking part in the campaign, Fair Pay For Teachers.
I would encourage you to get involved in this crucial campaign to protect the education service.”