Responding to the news that the Chancellor is considering a
freeze of public sector pay in next week's Comprehensive Spending
Review, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union
NAHT, said:
“The news that the government intends to freeze the pay of
teachers and other public sector workers will be seen as a huge
kick in the teeth for millions of school staff.
“Undoubtedly the costs of Covid have been significant, but the
government is looking for the wrong solution to the problem of
balancing the national budget.
“The teaching profession has already endured a decade of pay
freezes, in contrast to pay growth in the private sector. This
made teaching an uncompetitive career option for graduates who
have looked to other sectors to build their careers. The
government’s plans will make a dire situation even worse.
“The civic response to Covid has been characterised by the
willingness of public sector workers, school staff included, to
go the extra mile. Public sector workers have been critical to
the national effort. They have also endured personal losses and
tragedies. It is entirely wrong for the government to expect
dedicated public servants, some of them often on low rates of pay
already, to be the ones to shoulder the responsibility of paying
for the costs of Covid incurred by the Treasury.
“Another slap in the face on pay, after years of pay freezes and
an unbelievably challenging 2020 is an insult that many school
staff will be absolutely stunned by.”
