Press Release

Fair pay for teachers

5 September 2008

As part of the ongoing Fair Pay for Teachers campaign the Executive of the NUT unanimously agreed to proceed with a formal ballot of its members to seek their views on further strike action in opposition to the Government’s pay policy. Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers said;

“This is a campaign that becomes more relevant with each passing month. With food prices up 40%, utilities up over 30%, along with general inflation now running at 5%, teachers, particularly young teachers, are suffering.

“Refusing teachers a decent salary will have a direct impact on children and young people’s education. Recruitment has already taken a dive as graduates choose better paid and less stressful careers. A recent survey showed teachers are working ever longer hours; more work for decreasing pay.

“The Secretary of State must act to halt the spiral of decline in teachers’ pay. Teachers and other public sector worker unions cannot and will not stand by and see their members’ incomes and standards of living cut”.