Following detailed talks with the
Minister for Education and Welsh Language and Welsh Government
officials, the National Executive of the NEU have agreed to
suspend a planned day of action in Wales, which was scheduled for
14 February 2023.
Speaking about this decision,
NEU Joint General Secretary
Kevin Courtney said:
“The willingness of the Welsh
Government to engage in talks with us about the current pay
dispute is in stark contrast to the position taken by Westminster
and the Secretary of State for Education . We have now had a series
of discussions in Wales where the focus has been on resolving the
dispute, resulting in the current offer of an additional
consolidated award of 1.5% this year, plus a non-consolidated
lump sum of 1.5%.
“Whilst the offer remains
significantly below our members' demands, and does not begin
to address the real terms cuts visited upon teachers since 2010,
the Union will consult with our branches and workplace
representatives to secure the views of members in Wales. In the
meantime, next Tuesday’s strike action will be postponed
until 2 March. Meanwhile, we will continue to press for a fully
consolidated award and to seek an offer in respect of support
staff members, who have also provided a clear mandate for
action.”
Dealing with additional elements of
the talks, NEU Wales
Secretary , said:
“Workload remains a huge issue for our
members and progress has been made in attending to a range of
workload drivers for the short, medium and long term. We have
conveyed our members’ views to Welsh Government, who have
signalled an intent to address what has become an unsustainable
pressure on the workforce and will be welcomed across the
profession.
“There has also been an agreement to
review the Independent Wales Pay Review Board’s recommendations
on pay for the 2023/24 academic year. We look forward to
providing detailed evidence of the effects of spiralling
inflation and cost-of-living crisis to the IWPRB. We have been
pressing for this review which is clearly
overdue.”
