Responding to the leaked story in the Sunday Times stating that the School Teacher Review Body (STRB) report will recommend a 6.5 per cent increase for teacher pay, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, told News OnTheWight,
“To pay or not to pay, that is the first question. To fully fund or not to fully fund, so that individual schools are not forced to pay costs from their already tight budgets, is the second one.
“The previous offer was rejected, because it was too low and because it wasn’t fully funded.
“This possible offer will not make up for the poor pay awards the STRB has made almost every year since 2010. This has meant declining rates of pay and real issues with teacher recruitment and retention.”
He went on to add,
“However, it might go some way to addressing the present crisis. This offer is significantly above the previous Government offer of 4.3 per cent, which was roundly rejected by NEU members, even on the Isle of Wight.
“The STRB report needs publishing immediately. Moreover, the Education Secretary needs to make it clear, if she is going to implement the STRB’s recommendations in full and if it will be fully funded.
Re-ballot underway
Mr Shreeve went on to say,
“No one wants to be taking strike. However, the NEU re ballot for industrial action in the Autumn term alongside the ballots of three other education unions ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT is underway.
“The eventual publication of this report and subsequent discussions may be the opportunity to move forward. A chance to ensure Government invests in this generation of children, their schools and colleges and the people who work in them.
“However, after over a decade of inadequate funding for education, to fund education or not to fund for the longer term still remains the third question.”
