A preliminary ballot of National Education Union (NEU) teacher
members on pay has now closed.
The result demonstrates a will across membership for a fully
funded, above-inflation pay rise, in line with the NEU's campaign
on pay and funding.
When asked if they agreed that teachers should receive a fully
funded, above-inflation pay rise, 98% of our teacher members said
YES.
Asked if they are willing to take strike action to demand a fully
funded, above-inflation pay rise, as part of a future formal
ballot, 86% of teacher members said YES.
A separate preliminary ballot of support staff also strongly
supported taking action over pay.
The union gave the Government until today to respond to our
letter calling on them to prevent a formal trade dispute. (1) We
have received no answer.
The union will announce a timetable for a formal ballot and
potential dates of strike action in the coming week. Meanwhile,
the Government has time to respond to the concerns of our members
and improve the pay rise it has offered.
A formal strike ballot – the largest in a generation – will put
huge pressure on the Government to fund schools so that support
staff, teachers and leaders receive fully funded pay rises.
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General
Secretaries of the National Education Union, said:
"Today's ballot result is a clear statement from teachers that
they cannot go on like this. Their pay has been eroded
considerably in recent years, and with the growing cost-of-living
crisis, our members will face even greater challenges to make
ends meet.
"Successive Conservative governments have failed our members, our
public services, and our children. The latest pay rise, which the
present Government refuses to fully fund, will simply not do. Our
members expect a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise and have
today demonstrated their willingness to consider strike action in
pursuit of one.
"The Government will point to current economic challenges, but
the fact is that on its watch – since 2010 – the situation for
our members has worsened considerably. Rocketing inflation comes
after more than a decade of pay erosion, which has already seen a
real-terms cut in teacher salaries of 20 per cent since 2010. The
value of a £30,000 starting salary, promised at the 2019 election
and introduced this September, has already been wiped out by
inflation.
"The Government is fully aware of the recruitment and retention
crisis which has raged in the education sector throughout its
time in office. It routinely misses its targets for trainees, and
by its own measure 40% of teachers leave within ten years of
qualifying.
"That is why we will act on today's result and, on the
instructions of our membership, proceed to a formal ballot for
strike action. Our members don’t want to strike – they want to be
in the classroom, doing what they do best, educating the nation’s
children.
“It is regrettable that we have reached this point, but enough is
enough. A yes vote will be our recommendation in the ballot, and
we will use that mandate to demand from Government a serious
answer to more than a decade of declining pay. It is time not
only to value education but to value educators."
Editor's Note
The preliminary online ballot of NEU teacher members in England
and Wales opened on Saturday 24 September. It closed at noon on
Friday 14 October. 261,522 members were consulted. Turnout was
62%.
The definition of 'teacher' for the purposes of this preliminary
ballot includes standard, leadership, Newly Qualified &
Trainee employed members.
The first question put to teachers was "Do you agree that you
should receive a fully funded, above-inflation pay
rise?"
YES 98%
NO 2%
The second question put was as follows: "Would you vote yes
to strike action to demand a fully funded, above-inflation pay
rise?"
YES 86%
NO 14%
In total, the National Education Union has over 450,000 members
across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/neu-warns-formal-ballots-pay
