Client Spotlight: NEU and NASUWT fighting for fair pay
We take a look at two of our clients, The National Education Union (NEU) and The National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers (NASUWT), pushing for better pay as they consider strike action this month. Both trade unions play a significant role in raising teachers’ pay and improving working conditions in the UK, and both unions are pressing the government for changes necessary to address long-standing issues in the education sector. Particular issues include lack of funding, lack of teachers coming into the profession and too many experienced educators leaving the sector. And ultimately it’s the children who miss out.
Strikes and Industrial Action
While no further strikes are currently planned, the possibility remains. Strikes in December 2024 and January 2025 by sixth-form college staff highlighted dissatisfaction over pay arrangements for educators excluded from recent increases. NASWUT are currently running a ballot on this.
The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), an independent advisory body, is expected to make recommendations on pay later this year. Unions, including the NEU and NASUWT, have expressed concerns that the 2.8% the government has put forward to the pay review body is inadequate and underfunded.
Pay Award and Union Response
The government has recommended an unfunded 2.8% pay rise for teachers this year. The NEU is currently balloting its members on whether they are willing to take industrial action should such a low award happen. If rejected, the union plans to discuss industrial action, including potential strikes, at its annual conference in April.
NASUWT is also engaged in this debate on behalf of sixth form colleges, raising concerns about what it describes as insufficient proposals. Both unions argue that teacher pay has not kept pace with inflation over the past decade, leading to a decline in real-terms salaries.
Calls for Pay Restoration
The NEU and NASUWT are calling for “pay restoration” to address what they see as a decade of real-terms pay cuts, a concern supported by research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
In England, unions have called for a “fully funded, inflation-plus” pay rise for 2024/25. They have also highlighted the impact of excessive workloads on teacher retention and recruitment.
Regional Pay Variations
Pay negotiations and outcomes vary across the UK:
Wales: Teachers received a 5.5% pay rise for 2024/25, exceeding the recommendation of the Welsh pay review body.
Scotland: A 4.27% pay increase was agreed for 2024, but unions are seeking further increases for 2025/26.
Northern Ireland: Teachers accepted a backdated pay deal in 2024 covering 2021–2024 but are still pushing for a new settlement for the current academic year.
Impact on Schools
If strikes occur, schools in England are advised to remain open where possible. Headteachers will make decisions based on staff availability, with schools prioritising vulnerable pupils and those with upcoming exams. However, parents may face last-minute notices of closures.
The government has asked schools to minimise disruption during industrial action, while unions have offered guidance to ensure exam preparation is not affected.
Broader Implications
The ongoing disputes over teacher pay raise questions about the sustainability of the current system. Unions argue that addressing pay and workload issues is essential to retaining teachers and ensuring quality education.
As discussions continue, the NEU and NASUWT remain central to efforts to reshape the framework for teacher pay and working conditions.
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