The major teaching union‘s members have agreed to a 6.5% wage increase for English instructors and approved the end of strikes.
According to the National Education Union (NEU), 86% of its participants in a ballot in England opted to accept the resolution of the pay conflict.
60% of respondents indicated that they were in favour of ending the strike.
Since February, eight days of strikes by NEU teacher members have been held in public schools over a salary dispute.
The general secretaries of four education unions advised members to accept the 6.5% wage increase for teachers in England that was provided earlier this month. The unions had been planning additional walkouts during the upcoming fall semester.
95% of NEU teacher members in England who participated in a re-ballot on strike action that began in May before the salary offer was made, with a turnout of 53%, approved extending the union’s strike mandate for an additional six months.
However, the NEU has stated that additional wage-related strike action would no longer take place in the autumn semester as a result of the electronic ballot result on the Government‘s 6.5% pay offer for 2023–24.
85% of NEU support staff members in England who participated in a computerised poll also decided to accept the pay offer, with a turnout of 46%.
On July 13, the Government decided to carry with the STRB’s recommendation to increase teacher pay in England by 6.5% starting in September of this year.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in England has already voted for its members to accept the wage increase beginning in September.
On Monday, it’s anticipated that the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the NASUWT teachers’ union will make public the replies of their respective memberships to the compensation offer.
According to the government, the 6.5% wage increase for teachers will be “fully funded” with an additional £525 million for schools in 2023–2024 and another £900 million in 2024–2025.
Since the salary hike is just for teachers in English public schools, sixth-form college teachers were not included in the NEU’s electronic consultation.
‘As a democratic union, the NEU leadership assured members that any compensation and funding offer made by the government that called for their attention would be placed to them,’ stated Dr. Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU. Several members have spoken up loud and clear.
“The NEU submissions to the STRB significantly altered the Government’s stance on funding and pay,” said one NEU representative. The strike action that our workers participated in also changed the balance, securing the biggest pay award in more than 30 years. Members should be pleased with themselves for securing additional cash for schools.
They continued, “The Government should have no doubt that we will keep it accountable for providing for teachers and support staff in terms of workload and funding, and we will continue to represent the profession in further STRB discussions.
The NEU continues to believe that funding for schools and colleges is woefully inadequate. The NEU is still committed to pushing for more salary raises for teachers.
Everyone in the community of schools and colleges deserves an educational system that draws and retains teaching personnel and one that makes sure every kid receives the care and assistance they need. We won’t give up on our fight for a better-funded educational system.