Teachers who are members of the National Education Union (NEU) in England have voted to accept the government’s pay award of 5.5%.
The NEU conducted a snap poll by email and text of its approximately 300,000 members who work in state schools in England between 21 and 30 September. Of a 41% turnout, 95% of members voted to accept the offer.
The award, which was recommended by the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), will see the average teacher’s salary increase by more than £2,500. Schools will receive an additional £1.2 billion to fund the pay rise.
Members of other teacher unions, including National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), have not yet voted on the deal.
The NEU stated that pay increases are in the interests of pupils and parents, arguing that teacher shortages and high class sizes can damage education. It added that support staff, further education and sixth form college teachers also need support, because they will not be impacted by this offer.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: “Our members should be proud of what they have achieved through a hard-fought campaign. They have accepted this year’s pay deal, but the government should be in no doubt that we see it as just a first step in the major pay correction needed. Teacher pay in England is lower than it is in Scotland. This is unsustainable.
“Without a major pay correction to restore the competitiveness of teacher pay, the desire to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis promised by today’s government remit letter to the STRB will come up short. The government must make a commitment to repairing the damage done to teacher pay under the Conservatives. This must be done in negotiations with the teacher unions. Reversing pay cuts, alongside tackling sky-high workload, is essential to ensuring that we properly value, recruit and retain teachers.”
