NEU members must reject insulting pay offer
Your strike action in February and March forced the government into talks with teacher unions about pay and funding. In those talks union negotiators pressed hard for teachers to receive a fully-funded pay rise in line with inflation. At the end of the talks the government made an offer. It has asked unions to take that offer to members, and to recommend acceptance – accepting the offer will end our current dispute. Unfortunately, the government offer is not one we can recommend to you. The NEU National Executive is recommending that members reject this offer, so that the Union can press for more.
What is the offer?
The government is offering teachers:
·£1,000 cash payment for this year
·An average 4.3% increase from September 2023 (less for experienced teachers)
·PRP no longer compulsory for teachers on M1-M6 – schools can decide
·Reiteration of “rarely cover”, and twenty one admin tasks that teachers should not do
·Schools to be told the year in which Ofsted will visit.
And that really is it
You deserve better, education deserves better. The government must do better.
Vote to REJECT the offer
Three reasons to reject the offer
When considering the offer from government, NEU Executive members asked three questions:
1. Is it fully-funded?
2. Will it help solve the recruitment and retention crisis affecting our schools?
3. Is it comparable to the latest pay awards for teachers in Scotland and Wales?
The Executive unanimously agreed that the answer to all three questions is no.
1. Any pay rise that is not fully-funded will lead to further cuts in education provision and more job cuts, particularly amongst support staff.
2. Government keeps missing its teacher recruitment targets; a further pay cut does nothing to address this.
3. Teachers in Scotland and Wales have just agreed pay awards much better than this. Now you must decide. In an online ballot NEU members will be asked if you wish to accept or reject this offer.
Vote in the online ballot
Online ballot begins Monday 27th March. Ballot closes Sunday 2nd April The NEU Executive recommends members REJECT the government offer:
·None of this is fully-funded
·It is much less than the agreement for teachers in Scotland and Wales
·Inflation is over 10% – it is still a pay cut The government can do better We can win more
VOTE TO REJECT THE OFFER