National Education Union (NEU) teachers will hold two further days of strike action on Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July.
The continued aim to win a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise. Schools cannot be allowed to experience any more cuts to services.
In April, a pay and funding offer from Government was rejected by 98 per cent of NEU members on a 66 per cent turnout. Other unions held similar votes with equally compelling results.
Giving up a day’s salary for the seventh and eighth time
Commenting on this action, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“This week teachers will be giving up a day’s salary for the seventh and eighth time this year, fighting to improve teacher recruitment and retention. This shows their commitment to improving the learning experience received by all learners.
“Despite losing a day’s pay, some members will be supporting long planned evening events in schools, e.g. a primary prom.”
Fighting for a fully-funded pay increase
Mr Shreeve went on to say,
“Teachers are reluctant to take action, but feel they have no choice when faced with a Government refusing to negotiate on the issue of a fully-funded pay increase. This is in stark contrast to the governments in both Wales and Scotland where settlements were reached months ago.
“Island teachers have described the Education Secretary’s inaction as irresponsible and reckless. Indeed, some are so incensed that on 5th July some Island teachers will join the march on Parliament, timed to coincide with Prime Minister’s Question Time.”
In April, Gillian Keegan said we must wait for the pay recommendations of the School Teacher Review Body. In May leaks suggested 6.5 per cent. She refuses to publish the report. Her deliberate lack of cooperation is causing further chaos.
One teacher claimed,
“If she was employed in a school, this uncooperative ‘wall of silence’ behaviour would lead to a disciplinary situation.”
Shreeve: 32.3% of teachers left the sector five years after qualifying
Mr Shreeve continued,
“Playing politics is hurting our education system. It is not the responsible behaviour of a Minister, who continues to make our young people and staff suffer and should not be the norm.
“Government’s own figures, published this term, show the shocking state of recruitment and retention. Almost a third of teachers (32.3 per cent) have left the sector five years after qualifying, up from just over a quarter (26.0 per cent) seven years ago. Failure to hit training targets is now a matter of routine, and teacher vacancies are up by 55 per cent in just twelve months.”
Claims a pay rise will fuel inflation a nonsense
The Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union added,
“The latest position of the Education Secretary and the Prime Minister is to disregard the unpalatable findings of the STRB on the grounds that a pay rise will fuel inflation.
“Not only a nonsense, but also unfair. The Guardian reported last week that recent ONS and TUC analysis both showed annual wage increases are becoming more generous among the top 10 per cent of earners, while the rest of the working population is suffering a decline in wage growth. Thus, logic dictates, it is the highest earners fueling inflation.
“However, this is irrelevant. The IMF has rightly said, it is profits not wages which are the problem.
“Government should be aware the dispute is not fading. Island members voting right now in a re-ballot, to extend the campaign into the autumn, if no resolution on pay and funding is reached. Education unions ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT are also balloting members on the same issues for strike action in the autumn term.
“Gillian Keegan can avert strike action by publishing the STRB report and restarting talks to find a serious solution to the dispute.”
News shared by Peter on behalf of the National Education Union. Ed
Image: © NEU
