PAY CAMPAIGN RESPONSES: ( updated 26 June 2007) page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

I have been a head of department for 8 years. The frozen management points, stingy allocation of TLRs and below inflation pay rises year on year are hardly going to pay for rising utility bills, council tax bills and higher interest rates are they? I bring home a little more each year, but my lifestyle seems to be deteriorating!! WHY? - AQ, Sandwell

I am coming up to my 4th year of teaching and each year hope my pay will increase to show all the hard work I do (50 hours a week excluding work in the evening and at the weekend!). Although we live in Brighton property costs as much as those in the Fringe and Outer London but we do not receive any London payment to compensate. Someone seriously needs to look at teacher's pay or else soon only the rich will be able to afford to teach! - Claire, Brighton and Hove

I agree with the comment that "Unless members are prepared to actually do something then the government will take no notice". I believe that the Union needs to act on this as the cost of living keeps increasing along with the workload, Below inflation pay rises are not acceptable - Warren , Waltham Forest

I was appointed Head of Department in 1997. Although the school has almost doubled in size my pay was frozen on MA3. When the TLR consultation took place I discovered that many other teachers had received pay increases, but not me. I was told that my job had changed significantly (they just forgot to tell me). My husband has a chronic and life threatening illness, mine is the only income. - Lindsay, Manchester

Recently I compared my net salary pay for the past 4 years for the same month. It has gone up £170 in that time; and not at all in the past 2 years. With bills continually rising and inflation up, the outcome is a gradual - but noticeable - erosion. I had hoped to be saving for my eventual retirement. No chance! - Philip, Hampshire

I find the current pay offer insulting. This is a position I share with most of the staff in my school. Morale in the profession is very low, because of the high stress levels that the current job demands. This level of reward is going to worsen the situation. It makes me suspicious that the real motivation of the government is to create teacher shortages that will "force" them to develop an education system run by unqualified instructors and banks of computers. - Jeremy, Redbridge

Our job is a very demanding one. On daily basis we try to shape lives and careers. We invest a lot of time in school and out of hours to prepare our children for their future, everybody’s future and yet the rewards are appalling. we are just living from hand to mouth and always in the red. I think it is only fair to pay teachers well enough because our efforts, dedication and hard work are so under valued in our society. - Joe, Southwark

Yes, nurses work very, very hard indeed and are simply not rewarded anywhere near enough for their efforts. I know this as my mum is one. My belief is that nurses AND teachers are well overdue a better deal. Let’s work together on this and get the results we deserve. - S, Essex

The fact that our pay rise not linked to inflation is incredible. The phrases ‘cost of everything’ and the ‘value of nothing’ springs to mind. - PDW, Oxfordshire

I am single and I find it hard to cope. I rent a studio flat to have some peace and quiet to do marking and other school work. I admire teachers with families that have to manage with current teachers' salaries. - Tereza, Havering

I am living on own renting an average price flat. No major expenses as no family and do not live the life of ‘Reilly’ in terms of partying...yet just had to take out a loan in order to try and get out of debt. I am now having to cut back on everything to make sure I pay the load. All this is after 2 two years of teaching. I can't even think about buying own home. - S, East Riding

I work with the pupils that the schools cannot cope with, the excluded, the bullies, the bullied, the school phobics, the abused, those in safe houses and in care and those who are too ill to attend school. As you may imagine my job is difficult and very specialised. What is my financial reward for this? To be paid by the hour (contact time only), to be refused a contract and to be expected to attend meetings unpaid in my own time. Sue, North Yorkshire County Council

I have been teaching for 25 years, spend every day doing extra curricular activities, go on residential trips, coach kids in lunchtimes and am now losing £1300 as a result of TLRs. I am so fed up I would go tomorrow were it not for the blackmail of the pension system. - Brenda, Hampshire

I am extremely worried about the increasing privatisation of supply teaching through agencies. More and more schools use agencies because they are cheaper. I have with 22 yrs experience (and UPS1) yet I was told that if I worked in London I would receive £118 per day gross with no pension scheme. Thanks! - P, Newcastle upon Tyne

As a supply teacher, I am living on about £6,000 a year. I care for my mother, so am not able to work full time, but because I work less than 30 hours I don't qualify for tax credits. The paltry 2.5 % does less than nothing to help me. Percentage rises are a poor way of helping those on a low income and pathetic percentages are worse than anything. - Caryl, Stockport

I work part-time, two whole mornings (6 hours) a week. I love the work but I'm wondering whether to just do tutoring at home for 6 hours and earn 33% more without the hassle of travelling, paying for fuel and being involved in all the paperwork. - Mrs R, Lancashire

In the business sector, the rise in inflation is seen as a good time to increase unit costs on all products and services and companies feel justified in doing so. This increase is absorbed by all of us and, therefore, this should be factored into our pay. - Bob, Haringey

Although I work in an independent school - funded by donations only and providing free education to pupils of the village – I’m paid at least £3,000 less than in a state school. I cannot afford a flat so I have to live with my parents. - Charlotte, Warwickshire

I am six years into teaching and now hold a middle management post. I would need a mortgage of 5.5 times salary to buy a one bed flat in an area near to my school! It's a joke. When will government wake up to the fact that standards in education are dependant on the teaching profession and make policy that aims to give back the status, both financial and social, that the profession once had - Beth, Enfield

As a young teacher trying to get on the property ladder I had no other choice than to share a mortgage with one of my good friends. What is the world coming to when a professionally qualified teacher cannot afford to buy and live in their own home because of low pay? - John, Cheshire

I am an NQT and with student loans to pay, on top of the usual rent and bills. I am struggling to break even every month. When you consider the time and effort we teachers put into our jobs, it is unfair that we are valued so lowly compared to others in the other job sectors. It's time for change, and I for one will back industrial action if that's what is needed. - Edwina, Somerset LEA

I am a mum to a 4 year old and have recently lost my husband. As a single parent I have had to reduce my hours to give my son the time and attention he needs. Having had to reduce my hours, my management allowance has been reduced but I am still expected to do the same amount of work! Where is the fairness in that? - Lisa, Dudley

I am single and would love to buy my own property but refuse to take 5 times my annual salary in order to purchase a flat. Even on the outskirts on London property is still expensive, I can't win. I will have to rent forever or hope that I meet a wealthy man who already has his own property. -L, Redbridge

I am just finishing my second year of teaching and am constantly thinking about how I am going to afford to pay my bills and clear my university debts. I can only afford an interest only mortgage and do not see this situation improving. It's about time teachers are recognised for the work that they do and paid accordingly. - J, Plymouth

I have been teaching for 10 years. I bought my 2 bedroom house in 2000. I just managed to afford it. If I had to try to buy it now, there is no way I could be able to. A professional? I wish I felt like I was being treated as one. - Philip, Staffordshire

We are not only teachers but social workers, policemen, carers, surrogate parents, agony aunts etc all rolled into one. - S, Torbay

After several years of not being able to secure a permanent job in primary education, I opted to teach in Further Education. I am now earning £6,000 a year less than I would be if I had managed to find a job in the primary sector. I enjoy my job and would not want to go back to primary teaching, but would like a salary that reflects my qualifications and skills. - Beth, Gloucestershire

I feel that greater focus should be placed on working conditions. We should continue to fight for reduced class sizes and responsibilities. - M, Norfolk

I have just taken a part time job after being a deputy for three years. I have a nine month old son at home who I want to see! I felt that my pay did not reflect the hours and hard work that I put in. I also cannot afford full time child care and my mortgage, which I have had to switch to interest only payments until I go back to full time work! Our pay rise this year was insulting. I am not sure how long we can keep our property if interest rates continue to rise but our wages don't. - Amanda, Surrey

As well as the rate of pay increase campaign, the Union need to continue to campaign against local pay deals such as TLR's and AST scales which are threatening fair pay for teachers. - Moira, Gateshead

Let's do the sum. I live in a poky 1 bed flat. I spend £700pcm for transport, £100pcm for bills and £150pcm living expenses. My income after tax comes to around £1,300pcm. Nothing for cultural activities, holidays, new suit. Perhaps we don't deserve these 'extravagant luxuries!' I suddenly find that my living standard is worse than it was while I taught in Ghana. It's ludicrous. - T, Haringey

As a relatively new teacher I still spend most of my free time planning, marking and dealing with what seems to be a growing amount of paperwork. My husband also works in the Public Sector and as first-time buyers we’ve really struggled. I can’t give less to my job as I feel it is too important, but 8-10 hour days and working holidays are not reflected by my pay and I’m not sure how long I want to continue being undervalued. - A, Kent

Teaching is stressful, under-paid and possibly the least rewarding job I have ever come across. After 4 years of teaching, I am hoping that the future will hold a more satisfying career, even if it is outside teaching. I struggle to live on my wages and have any kind of quality of life. Mortgages are impossible to afford now. - C, Islington

I am course leader of Music Technology with responsibility for results, resources, teaching and learning within the subject, advertising/developing the course and managing the staff under me. I am not rewarded with even a low TLR 2! No extra pay. I am being dumped on from a very high height indeed. Sick of not being able to afford life’s basics! My friend of 20 years is a driver, does 30 hours and week and earns £26,000! - Kieron, Birmingham

I am fed up with pay increases that do not match the true costs I have to pay to keep my family of four children. Council Tax, University costs and other costs soar leaving me far worse off year after year. I am top of UPS 3 and see only declining living standards ahead of me. GP's are now getting 100K. It would seem not unreasonable to give teachers at least half that figure. We have a long training and are after all the most scrutinised and accountable of all professionals. - Michael, Bristol

I have been teaching for 10 years but I am finding the pay increase very poor compared with other jobs in the professional sector! We train for so long but are not rewarded for the job we do. I work in the South East but do not qualify for a Fringe Area payment even though house prices in the south East are going through the roof. - Sarah , Kent

My girlfriend and I are both experienced teachers with added responsibilities and about to start a family. It is a desperate situation and immoral that we can not afford suitable accommodation or enjoy a decent standard of living on our wages. - Mark, Barnet

Surely we are worth the pay rise? After all, we are educating our future generation! - A, Wirral

I committed 4 years training to enter the profession, having had to pay through the nose for the privilege (tuition fess etc.!). Yet I find myself unable to afford a mortgage or to pay off existing student debts. Why isn't more help given to 4 year students and why don't we get an incentive to help us get started in the profession? I love my job but the pay certainly doesn't reflect the responsibility or strain of the job. Teachers are obviously working for charity!!! - H, Greater Manchester

I feel totally undervalued by current pay rates, the standards I am forced to live in and my non existent social life. I have not yet completed my NQT year, and am wondering whether teaching is the profession to stay in. I love teaching and can't think of doing anything else but am feeling the need to reconsider my options once my NQT year is completed. - R, Leicestershire

As I work in an ISP school, I feel that the rewards of teaching are becoming less and less. Children deserve a better! If I do not believe in what I am 'made' to teach it makes it much more difficult to accept lower wages. - Gaynor, Nottingham City

As a Maths teacher I teach my pupils how to calculate the effects of inflation and they are surprised how slowly but surely its effects are felt. Even if the government don't want to pay us more, they should at least pay the full inflation rate each year and make up for the last few years’ losses! - Bill, East Sussex

I have been teaching now for 4 years. I am paid only a little more than my NQT colleagues. My pay has increased very little. If I had gone into private industry I'd be on several thousand more a year. My partner and I can only just afford to buy a house. Teachers’ pay in comparison to other professions is so poor. I want to leave. -Helen, Lincolnshire

Why don't we just get on with it and go on strike? It worked for the fire-fighters! We are far too soft. - H, Lincolnshire

I work in a special measures school, by choice I hasten to add. When talking to a friend of mine who works in industry about my job he asked "So when you get out of this special measures status, what kind of pay bonus will you get?" I laughed, he was shocked. - R, Derby

I'm not in teaching for the money but I do feel that teachers do get a raw deal. Who can find a teacher that doesn't work less than 50 hours a week? I know I'm clocking up about 70 to 80 hours a week at the moment. Teachers’ pay needs to reflect their actual working hours and needs to be more than inflation and all the other increases in tax etc. - Nick, Reading

Since the so-called cost of living pay rise changed from April to September, I find it harder and harder to budget as all the bills go up, especially council tax, yet my pay rise does not come into effect until September. This, along with the fact that the pay rise is nowhere near the rise in cost of living, is putting me further and further into debt. There may be jobs in this area but it is too expensive for public sector workers to live here! - X, Reading

I am a highly qualified person with an MRes from York. I am on MPS2 and am currently having to sell the house I have managed to keep single-handedly for more than 3 years. If I don't sell my house, the overheads will make me bankrupt as my wages just don't allow me to own my own home. It wouldn't be so bad if it was a huge house, but I have a small 2-bed bungalow I bought for £80,000. It is disgusting that as a professional I am unable to remain on the property ladder without a partner to share the costs. - Sarah, Staffordshire

I came to teaching from retail less than 10 yrs ago and I am still repaying my student loan at £100 per month in addition to mortgage, council tax and living expenses. We don't have a flash house, just big enough for our family and we have never been abroad. We rarely have spare cash. I am seriously considering returning to retail where the pay was just marginally less but the stresses were minimal in comparison and surprisingly the hours were also less when you take into account workload. This is nothing like I thought teaching would be. - Emma, Sunderland

I feel financially undervalued and cheated by the poor state of my pay. - X, Swansea

Despite having qualified as a teacher late in order to improve the quality of my life, I continually find myself struggling to make ends meet. As a single mother of two I find paying my mortgage, bills and general day to day living costs a continual pain. My eldest daughter has recently qualified as a teacher and is about to embark on her career. How on earth she will manage to buy her first home etc I don't know. When I began teaching I was earning considerably more than my friends. Now they have actually overtaken me in terms of pay increases - P, Sandwell

As the need for special needs teachers, especially those working with children with ASD has increased over the past ten years, the need to recognise specialised teachers in this area of teaching and learning is not reflected in the pay and incentives for NQT and experienced OTT teachers. - Julie, Southwark

My employer refuses to honour national agreements on threshold progression and I am stuck at exactly the same level I was four years ago. Pay agreements need to be enshrined in law for all teachers regardless of the status of the school. Can we expect Brown to act on this? - Christine

If you went into teaching for the money then you're in the wrong job. Scotland seems to have the right idea. Let's hope Mr Brown will improve support for our children both in and out of the classroom. - N, Oxfordshire

After 5 years training and 20 years experience I am at the top of my pay scale yet I am still not earning enough to buy a home on my own. Fortunately, I am with a partner who earns more than me. Otherwise, at the age of 46 with 2 dependant children I would be unable to buy my own home. - X, West Berkshire

I have only been qualified for 2 years but have found that my wage is not enough to help me get a mortgage. My rent is also very expensive and will get worse - I'm going to end up homeless! Oh and I'm tired of people telling us to stop complaining as we get long holidays - yes holidays are good, but what is the use of long holidays with no money to afford to do anything. - Joanne, Sunderland