Over half (56%) of UK adults say teachers would be justified in
taking industrial action if they were given a pay rise below
inflation, polling carried out on behalf of NASUWT –
The Teachers’ Union reveals today.
The poll by Savanta
ComRes also found that support for industrial
action was higher among parents, with 64% saying teachers were
justified in taking industrial action if they were given a
below-inflation rise.
Parents of children aged under 18 are more likely than those
without children to say teachers would be justified in taking
industrial action if they were given a pay rise below inflation
(64% vs. 53%), with support highest among those with children
aged 5-10 years old (72%).
On teacher pay, two thirds (66%) of adults said teachers should
be better paid for the job they do.
Those aged 18-34 are most likely to say that teachers should be
better paid for the job they do (78% vs. 67% among 35-54 year
olds and 57% among those 55+).
Parents to children under 18 are more likely than those without
children to say teachers should be better paid (72% vs. 63%),
with support rising highest among those with children aged 5-10
years old (80%).
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick
Roach said:
“Parents clearly value the work of teachers and headteachers and
believe that teachers should be better paid.
“The Government should be investing more in teachers, rather than
cutting teachers’ pay and planning yet more cuts to children’s
education.
“It’s time for the Government to restore the confidence of
parents and the public by delivering a fully-funded real terms
pay award for teachers and headteachers.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach will be at the TUC
Congress in Brighton from Monday evening onwards – please contact
the Press Office to arrange broadcast interviews.
Methodology: Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,240 UK adults aged 18+
online between 30th September and 2nd October 2022. Data was
weighted to be representative of all UK adults by age, sex,
region, and SEG. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British
Polling Council and abides by its rules.
The NASUWT will be balloting its members for industrial action
over the failure by Government and employers to guarantee
teachers and headteachers a fully-funded real-terms pay award of
12%. Ballot papers will be issued to members from 27 October and
the ballot will close on 9 January with the result to be
announced immediately.
