Press Release

Teaching unions united in demand for pay award to reflect changes in inflation – ASCL, ATL, NASUWT, PAT

5 July 2007

Teaching unions are demanding that a separate pay settlement for 2006-2008 is included in the 2008-2011 pay award.  This must take account of inflation rising well above the current two-year 2.5% deal and over the agreed 3.25% trigger point for reviewing the pay award. 

The four teaching unions – ASCL, ATL, NASUWT, and PAT – who between them represent the vast majority of teaching staff, including teachers and heads, are united in their demand for the coming three-year deal to incorporate a separate award for 2006-8. 

The 2006-08 deal gave teachers pay rises of 2.5% in September 2006 and 2007, with Government agreement to review the pay award if the average rate of headline inflation for the 12 months to April 2007 or April 2008 rose above 3.25%.  Over this period inflation averaged 3.73%.

The unions’ demand has been submitted to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for its consideration, and follows a joint union pay submission in May requesting an above inflation pay award for 2008-2011. 

The unions warn the re-opener clause in the 2006-8 pay award was a critical factor in securing the current two-year deal.  If the Government reneges on its promise to reconsider the current deal the unions say their members will be unable to support another multi-year pay award as their confidence in re-opener clauses and multi-year deals will have been undermined.

The unions say it is imperative the STRB acts to prevent serious erosion of pay levels, restore pay levels and create a sound basis for the 2008-2011 pay award.  They argue that any return to the historic uncertainty of peaks and troughs in pay would damage morale, recruitment and retention of teachers.

John Dunford, general secretary of ASCL, said:  “The need for improved pay to support recruitment to senior posts is critical. Unless teachers and school leaders are confident that they will be properly compensated for the level of responsibility they are taking on, we will struggle to find the next generation of heads."

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said:  “Teachers’ salaries have already started to fall in value because of the rise in inflation.  They – and we - will not countenance a return to previous cycles of boom and bust in pay. 

“Teachers will lose confidence in the STRB unless it takes inflation into account in its recommendations for the 2008-2011 pay award.  If teaching is going to attract and retain bright young graduates and experienced teachers and heads the Department for Children, Schools and Families needs to make sure they are fairly paid – and not treated as Cinderellas.”

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said:  "Our evidence makes it clear that it is imperative that the STRB considers this issue seriously to prevent erosion of pay levels, to restore pay to its intended level and to secure a sound basis on which to determine the appropriate level of award for the 2008-2011 pay period.  Without this, the integrity of the coherent package of pay and conditions will be seriously compromised, and continuing support for a multi-year pay system would be unlikely to continue.”

Philip Parkin, general secretary of PAT, said:  “The re-opener clause gave reassurance to teachers that a multi-year pay settlement was in their best interests. In order to retain that confidence it is essential that the current two-year pay settlement be reconsidered in the light of steadily rising levels of inflation. A failure to take these inflationary pressures into account and maintain pay levels would make it extremely difficult to consider multi-year pay deals in the future.”