PAY CAMPAIGN RESPONSES: (updated 04 July 2007) page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Young child, mortgage and student debts - this government has no understanding of how teachers have to cope on below average wage increases. Hanna, Worcestershire

I absolutely loved teaching in my first few months, until I realised just how underpaid and undervalued we really are. I seem to work around the clock … as well as the general preparation and marking. I wouldn't mind this at all if I could afford to live. Taking home about £1250 a month in my second year is a complete and utter insult to my five years at Edinburgh University and my dedication to my job. I calculated that I actually earned 60% more (pro rata) working for British Gas on the phones when I was a student. I cannot even afford to rent a decent property and run my car. My joke of a wage is forcing me to look for a new profession- doing something I'm much less passionate about, but at least I could afford to move out. At 25 I don't want to be living with my parents, the whole situation is making me miserable. Joanne, Warrington

I always hear people talking of the prices 'down south' and I am in no doubt that they are outrageous and that everyday living on a teacher's wage is a mare. It is no better 'up north'. As a young teacher I am sick of working all the hours under the sun to be left with not enough money to get by. I can't get a mortgage despite already working my way up a pay scale in a 'professional' job. It seems absurd that any professional should be in this position, yet I don't think I know a single young teacher who is not in my position. Wake up Government-it's no wonder so many teachers leave the profession!!!!!!! G, Oldham

I've been teaching for five years and at the end of each month I still wonder if I will have enough money to break even. I live on my own as well, so I don't actually have any cash to save towards anything - a holiday, some new clothes or even towards my retirement (I can't afford to pay into the pension scheme!). I do have debts which are mainly because of my time at University, but I am furious because I have always worked (even through University) and have never lived an extravagant lifestyle. How can I continue to be a teacher if I cannot afford to support myself? Claire, Bedfordshire

You are not kidding when you suggest that teacher's pay has lost its spending power. Not only has my mortgage gone up, but I am still paying my younger son's way through university. Quite simply at the end of each month I have nothing left to go into savings, there is no contingency fund. A recent tax cheque I had from IR all went on paying bills (I have no credit card debt, nor do I have any personal loans). Having come from another system and having gained at tremendous social and personal cost QTS... my many years of experience it would seem count for nothing. Alan Johnston's comments that teacher's pay increases will be linked to performance through so called test results and value added means that only teachers in the leafy green suburbs with an aspirational clientelle will have access to decent pay scales. Teach in a 'sink school' and you are ...well... sunk. I'm beginning to wonder if this government wants teachers in schools at all. After 30 years of excellent service in a wide variety of contexts, I'm wondering whether I should stay in education at all. Mike, Norfolk

In 2004, I was appointed Head of Subject but without the Key Stage responsibility which I was to pick up the following year. I had one M point for a temporary project. I took the post, which included mentoring an NQT for the same pay!!! The colleague whom I mentored was asked, two years later, to set up, teach and run a new A level Psychology course for no extra pay. We both felt powerless. I think both cases, but especially the latter, are outrageous and scandalous treatment of professionals. On the same theme, I think the 'new' Gordon Brown government should listen more to teachers 'at the chalk face' and encourage more respect for the profession in this country. N, Derbyshire

With a mortgage on a small two bed flat coming in at over £800, council tax at over £100 and other essential bills such as water, electricity and gas at around £150 between them, why is it that my wages come in at less than £1500? In any other profession an experienced well qualified graduate would be earning much more than this. It is time to take action now. Rebekah, Cardiff

I have worked as a Nursery Teacher for 29 years this summer. I am on UPS3 and receive the minimum TLR payment. In real terms my salary is decreasing but my work has increased dramatically and continues to do so. I am working most evenings as my PPA time does not allow me even now to complete all my work. I would not recommend anyone to go into teaching as the financial rewards are poor. I would dearly love to be able to retire but due to the low pay have to work until the bitter end!! Penny, Slough

I have been in teaching for 10 years and was hoping that a profession such as this meant that I would be able to afford a house in a respectable area. My salary barely keeps up with the cost of living (with huge council tax and fuel bills) so now I am probably stuck with a house which I bought as a first time buy. I really didn't expect to be having to worry about finances in a profession like ours. Brian, Flintshire

I have to hold down a second job to be able to pay my bills. How can the government want us to plan and deliver high standards if we have to spend all of our time worrying about the state of our personal finances? Since we are being paid minimum (if that) wages, for the hours we put in, we should put in minimum hours, as I have started to do. As the saying goes "You only get what you pay for!" R, Barnsley

This is a fantastic opportunity for all public sector workers to campaign together and force the government to face up to reality. They need to stop wasting money on illegal wars and give people a decent living wage, decent housing and decent community facilities. It is only by working together and having solidarity with one another that we can win. Debs, Salford

I have an 80 miles round trip to work every day as there are no teaching jobs in my county due to years of funding cuts. We can't move because my partner has a head of department post in a school in our county and, despite having two full time teaching salaries, we simply cannot afford to purchase a house, as well as meet all our other outgoings. Friends I went to school with who work in manual jobs earn more than me without any of the debts I've accrued! They find it almost laughable. I, as you can imagine, do not. Jason, Carmarthenshire

My wife and I are both teachers and so the 'pay cuts' have a double impact on our income. We are home owners and have three young children and so it is hard enough maintaining that 'work-life balance' thing that those wonderful workforce reforms have brought in. We are underpaid compared to other professions and the government failed to review our pay despite the conditions being met. It's time to stand up against a government that has lied its way out of an appropriate pay rise for teachers. I will support whatever action is deemed necessary by the unions to resolve this. J

I joined Sure Start five years ago as a part-time SEN teacher. I was quite willing to give up school holidays to be on a level with other staff but as I am employed as a teacher I have stayed on the teacher's pay scale. However I was told by the DFES when I applied, successfully, to cross the threshold to the upper pay scale that I am not a "proper teacher" and they would not pay me accordingly. The government want teachers attached to children's centres but they need to think carefully about terms and conditions - I am now losing a lot of money each year. No one seems interested in our plight. Jennifer, South Tyneside

I do not earn enough. I have a family of three children and we live in debt. I work on a building site on Saturdays to earn some extra money. Most others in the construction trade are earning more than me. Mortgage, utilities, Council Tax, insurance, all the big hits on my bank account each month go up by more than inflation, and in real terms I get a pay cut. It is not enough for my family to live on. Rob, Somerset

What a cheek! The super rich pay no tax. On a bar chart their pay would need a column two stories high But we face pay cuts! The last strike was in the 1980's. We will need strike action again in 2007! As a representative, my members tell me they are feeling the pinch. We are all up for action. We should join the nurses, civil servant, postal workers who all are against the same 2% pay freeze. Mark, Trafford

After four years on an undergraduate programme and successfully achieving a Bachelor in Education with Honours, I find myself two years later, holes in my shoes and socks, the same worn out suit day in day out, all because my salary is enough to pay off student debt repayments and my interest only mortgage payment. I'm sure if I wait another four years to reach M6 I will feel the weight a little lighter, but not by much if inflation and pay cuts increase consistently as they have done in recent years. Help!! Sean, Devon

I was convinced by the adverts on T.V. into thinking that entering teaching after being in the electronics engineering industry for 26 years was a good idea. I took some major financial risks in making the move and knew that my pay as a teacher was never likely to compare that of an engineer. I now find that I have the extra problem in that my salary is no longer linked to inflation. I am sure that I have made the right move in terms of putting something back into society. Unfortunately, the financial strains are increasingly difficult to accept. Philip, Wirral

I carried out a straw poll in my school using the three NUT questions. 14 members, 12 returned survey forms. 100% think teachers pay should be protected. 100% think the government is dishonourable. 75% are prepared to take action. Let's go for it! Alan, Lincolnshire

It seems that the government won't do anything. So why are the NUT not balloting for strike action? Put our plight in the press and make it ring out loud so everyone knows how the government is letting us down. Tony, Camden

Answering what I believed was a "national plea" for more teachers I left a well paid job to embark on a three year degree in Education. I have been teaching now for the last five years, I still owe £13,500 on my student loan, have missed three years of employer pension contributions and am paid less than I was ten years ago! I feel as if I have gone backwards and not forwards. I feel very guilty that my wife and two children have had to go without the various luxuries such as holidays. Would I recommend the profession? Teaching the children is fantastic; the pay isn't. Find another job and work as a volunteer. Mark, North Yorkshire

With the postal workers about to take action on pay and the effects of so called market reform, I am proud that the NUT NEC voted to organise a ballot on pay. We must get the government to honour its promise to look again and increase our pay in the context of climbing inflation Paul, South Gloucestershire

My rent has risen by almost 8%, not to mention the increase in Council tax. My food bill rises every week. I work seven days a week sometimes more than 12 hours a day. I also have three children who are still dependant on me.
I believe that my job is important and the only way to get it done properly is to put in the extra hours. I am now thinking of a different position, within education, where I know I will earn far more and be less stressed. May, Croydon

In my most recent pay package I noticed a significant difference in my end wage, resulting in what appears to be a pay decrease. Surely this should not be allowed? Also I feel our current pay system still seems far below that of many of my friends who graduated in different subjects and whose pay seems far better than ours. Steven, Milton Keynes

I am just in the process of moving from Rotherham to St. Albans. I signed a years’ contract with the aim of moving back north as soon as possible. No one can seriously live "down south" on this kind of money!! Chris, Rotherham

I am coming to the end of my NQT year and am struggling to survive on what I earn. I have missed payments for bills as I just can't afford to live. At the moment I can't afford to buy more food till pay day, so eat nothing at lunch time; which affects my teaching in the afternoon. I knew the 'real world' would be hard but this is ridiculous! A, Hampshire

A colleague and I once added up all the hours we had worked in an average week then worked out what our hourly pay was based on the salary we receive. It came to £3.60 per hour! That's way below minimum wage! It's absolutely disgusting that trained professionals are being subjected to such poor pay conditions. No wonder I can't get on the housing ladder. Rikki, Oldham

I am disgusted that the government does not value teachers enough to keep our pay at the same levels as inflation. We are now facing our third or fourth pay cut. I have been teaching for six years and only now have I, just, been able to afford to buy my own home. If the government wants us to be professionals and to do our jobs effectively, then they should honour their promises and pay us accordingly. Kevin, Hertfordshire

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