ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the government's announcement of a 2.45 per cent pay increase for teachers in England and Wales this year.

The secretary of state for children, schools and families also announced above-inflationary pay increases - as of January 2008 - for next year and 2010 as part of the new programme of three year pay-deals in the public sector.

Stakeholder response: Professional Association Teachers

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Philip Parkin, general secretary, said: "Teachers may well be disappointed with this. This is a pay cut in real terms and teachers will see it as such.

"There will be considerable disquiet that the gains made in recent years are now being reversed and that teachers' pay will fall further behind inflation over the next three years as prices and living costs continue to rise. 

"This concern is further compounded by the recent announcement on minimum funding guarantee of 2.1 per cent for schools for the next three years. In considering both announcements together, it would appear that the salaries of teachers will be worth less in real terms and that the ability of schools to afford even these modest increases is going to be severely tested without further cuts in resource allocation.

"PAT has supported multi-year settlements in the past, as they can provide for stability and allow schools to plan more effectively in the medium-term; but they must also be flexible enough to react to the economic climate of the day and take inflationary pressures into account.

"The government's recent failure to implement the reopener clause under the terms of the last settlement has undermined teachers' confidence in multi-year settlements."

Stakeholder response: ATL

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Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary, said: "This three-year award should give stability for schools to plan their budgets and help in the recruitment and retention of teachers.

"However, this deal doesn't match the current rate of inflation. ATL will continue to argue that pay awards should protect teachers' pay in real terms.

"We are pleased the STRB held a firm and principled position by not capitulating to the government's demands to keep public sector pay to two per cent. 

"The government should be commended for accepting the level of pay recommended by the STRB."

Dr Bousted added: "ATL will keep a close watch on recruitment and retention of teachers to be ready to make a strong recommendation to the STRB pay review in 2009."

Stakeholder response: The National Union of Teachers

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Steve Sinnott general secretary, said: "Teachers will be worse off. This pay settlement of 2.45 per cent for 2008 is well below the rate of inflation of 4 per cent which was also announced today. This will reduce the standard of living for teachers and exacerbate the problems of recruitment and retention.

"Teachers have to pay increases in the cost of housing, fuel and food. This settlement is in effect a pay cut. There can not be a return to the days of 'boom and bust' in teachers' pay.

"The government wants to make all schools centres of creativity, innovation and enjoyment, "ready to challenge and inspire". The teaching profession supports such high expectations but they also have high expectations for levels of salary equal to the degree of professionalism expected of them.

"The NUT Executive will be meeting next week and I have no doubt they will want a robust response."