SAY NO TO BELOW INFLATION PAY INCREASES

The Government is limiting teachers’ pay increases for 2008-2011 to levels which do not match the current rate of inflation. Teachers’ pay increases have already been below inflation every year from 2005 onwards. This has meant real terms pay cuts – teachers on UPS3 have already lost £2000 and rising.

Commenting on today's research report by the National Centre for Social Research on patterns of referral to the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) on grounds of incompetence, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

"Whilst there are heads who seek successfully to protect their staff from unreasonable expectations from Government and its related agencies, there are those who simply pass on the unreasonable pressure they suffer from Ofsted and local authorities on to their staff.

"The fact is the number of teachers on capability procedures is small. It is a tribute to both teachers and school leaders that they have managed to keep their heads throughout the plethora of initiatives and unprecedented levels of pressure over the last few years.

"What the report should have looked at is why a teacher may be deemed to be incompetent in one school, but if he or she had taught in another would have flourished. It is not good enough, therefore, simply to look at procedures but at why some potentially effective teachers are being driven from the profession.

"It is very important that the GTCE consider the background to referrals as well as evidence which may be presented by employers."

This May 2009 document sets out the findings of an NUT survey on the financial position of NUT teachers who entered teaching in the last two years.

The submission to the STRB sets out the NUT’s case for improved pay for teachers and the NUT’s detailed proposals on teachers’ pay. Independent research commissioned by the NUT from Incomes Data Services is attached to the submission.

The NUT has submitted evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body – which is due to review the teachers’ pay increase for 2009 – urging the STRB to recommend, at the very least, increases in pay which will restore the losses caused by below inflation pay increases every year since 2004.

Acting General Secretary's letter to members on post strike action.

The Union is to ballot members for a one day strike on 24 April 2008. Please find attached the General Secretary’s letter sent to school representatives.

The Union is to ballot members for a one day strike on 24 April 2008. Please find attached the General Secretary’s letter sent to the homes of all NUT members.

This is an NUT summary of the decisions announced by the Secretary of State on 15 January. An edition of the NUT News is in preparation and will be circulated to all schools imminently.

The NUT petition, once signed, needs to be returned to NUT, HAMILTON HOUSE, MABLEDON PLACE, LONDON WC1H 9BD in an envelope marked "Fair Pay For Teachers"