Teachers given pay rise of 2.45%

[Master Fox]

Teachers given pay rise of 2.45%

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7188649.stm

Teachers' unions have given a divided response to the increase

Teachers in England and Wales will get pay rises above the 2% set by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The three-year pay deal will mean increases of 2.45% in September 2008 and 2.3% in each of the following two years, says Schools Secretary Ed Balls.

Pay rises were expected to be pegged to 2%, in line with the government's policy on public sector pay deals.

Teachers' unions were divided in their responses - with both approval and threats that the rise was inadequate.

Head teachers' leader, John Dunford, welcomed the higher than expected rise.

'Pay cut'

"There had been a good deal of anxiety among school leaders at the prospect of a lower award," said Dr Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.

Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, said: "Compared with other public sector workers, clearly we have fared well."

Teachers have to pay increases in the cost of housing, fuel and food. This settlement is in effect a pay cut

Steve Sinnott, National Union of Teachers

But she said the union would hold an opinion poll "to gauge whether teachers feel that the level of this award is going to be sufficient".

The National Union of Teachers remained unimpressed by the increase - warning that its executive would meet next week to plan a "robust response".

"Teachers have to pay increases in the cost of housing, fuel and food. This settlement is in effect a pay cut," said general secretary Steve Sinnott.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers acknowledged that the award was higher than for other public-sector staff, but cautioned that it still failed to match inflation.

The salary increases, recommended by the independent pay body, the School Teachers' Review Body, have been accepted by Mr Balls.

Describing teachers as the "backbone of our education system", Mr Balls said that the pay award was "fair and affordable for schools".

"Today's pay award will enable teachers and schools to plan ahead with a greater degree of security and certainty and at the same time will help deliver stability for the taxpayer and the wider economy," said Mr Balls.

Inflation target

This pay award was being watched as an indicator of public sector settlements - and Mr Balls said that the deal was "consistent with the achievement of the CPI inflation target of 2%".

Ed Balls says the pay settlement is "fair and affordable"

Mr Balls said the pay rise, which will also see a £25,000 minimum starting salary in inner London, was "value for money for taxpayers" and reflected the labour market.

In the upper pay scale for teachers in inner London, the value of the rise will be 3.45%.

The pay award comes against a background of threatened industrial unrest among teachers. The National Union of Teachers had already voted to prepare for a one-day strike in the event of a 2% offer.

The government measures inflation by the consumer price index, which was running at 2.1% in November.

But unions prefer another measure of inflation, the retail price index, which includes costs such as rent and mortgages - in November the retail index was running at 4.3%.

Union pressure

The announcement marks the first of a new round of multi-year pay settlements which the government is trying to agree with public sector workers in a bid to keep inflation down and help departments plan their budgets more effectively.

The government is coming under increasing pressure from unions in other sectors over its 2% ceiling.

In December, police officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were awarded a 2.5% pay rise but the Police Federation claims it was effectively only a 1.9% rise because the home secretary refused to backdate it to September.

The Scottish Government did agree to backdate the rise to September, as recommended by the Police Arbitration Tribunal.

The row has prompted the Police Federation to say it will ballot members in 2008 on whether they want the right to strike, as they are currently banned from doing so.

Nurses are also being restricted to a 1.9% rise.

[Phube]

I got 1.9% Yay!!!

Lucky teachers!!!!

[cisono]

Teachers have a tough job to do, as have nurses.

However, I can think of a few teachers that don't deserve any pay rises....

[James.]

I got 1.9% Yay!!!

Lucky teachers!!!!

Given that current inflation is 2.1% you have actually been awarded a pay decrease in real terms. Congratulations.

[Jon the Hat]

Given that current inflation is 2.1% you have actually been awarded a pay decrease in real terms. Congratulations.

These are public services. If you give them an above average pay rise then it means the rest of us have to not only pay the additional living costs but also additional taxes to cover the above payrise for the public sector.

[Master Fox]

Teachers have a tough job to do, as have nurses.

However, I can think of a few teachers that don't deserve any pay rises....

Nobody on here i hope?

[Hullfox]

Teachers have a tough job to do, as have nurses.

However, I can think of a few teachers that don't deserve any pay rises....

I hate across the board rises.

It rewards those who don't deserve it and ignores the performance of the better people.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Most new teachers I know are incredibly irritating, always banging on about their work. I... do not... care...

[Manwell Pablo]

Most new teachers I know are incredibly irritating, always banging on about their work. I... do not... care...

I know a docter like that, who loves to tell you all about the latest granny shes had in with a shitting disorder, in great detail, while your trying to eat your Sunday roast. Drives me barmy.

[James.]

These are public services. If you give them an above average pay rise then it means the rest of us have to not only pay the additional living costs but also additional taxes to cover the above payrise for the public sector.

I understand the economics although I wouldn't say that a pay rise in line with inflation (as opposed to below it) is "above average".

[The People's Hero]

Most new teachers I know are incredibly irritating, always banging on about their work. I... do not... care...

You should spend an hour with my ex-girlfriend and her family.

Christ.

I might type her name here in the hope the finds this thread when doing her usual vain and self-obsessed googling of her own name.

[BigGibbo]

You should spend an hour with my ex-girlfriend and her family.

Christ.

I might type her name here in the hope the finds this thread when doing her usual vain and self-obsessed googling of her own name.

Number?

[AoWW]

Chances are I won't get it - being in the independent sector. Though they normally adjust our wages to reflect the change at some point. Can't really complain though - I get a higher salary (than those in similar jobs in 'mainstream' schools); generally 'nicer/easier' kids and and class sizes that approximately half those in mainstream schools.

Teachers have a tough job to do, as have nurses.

However, I can think of a few teachers that don't deserve any pay rises....

I agree.

Nobody on here i hope?

Shurrup, you.

I hate across the board rises.

It rewards those who don't deserve it and ignores the performance of the better people.

Tis the nature of the public sector, I'm afraid. Doesn't matter how crap you are, as long as you can hang onto that job and stick it out you'll keep getting (fairly substantial) pay increases. It's so different to industry. Not how it should be, imo.

Most new teachers I know are incredibly irritating, always banging on about their work. I... do not... care...

Oops, sorry, just tell me to shut the fu ck up then.

[Tommy G]

Teaching is a difficult job...apart from Primary School.

[lildave3]

Boooooo.

[The People's Hero]

Teaching is a difficult job...apart from Primary School.

Erm... what is your job?

Or is this going to be like when you were labelling everyone else's cars as sh it and then it turned out you had a fiesta?

[Manwell Pablo]

Erm... what is your job?

Or is this going to be like when you were labelling everyone else's cars as sh it and then it turned out you had a fiesta?

oi.

[Tommy G]

Erm... what is your job?

Or is this going to be like when you were labelling everyone else's cars as sh it and then it turned out you had a fiesta?

pipe down.

Im training to become an accountant, only 19 you see.

I just can't see Primary School teaching as a tricky job? it's just my opinion.

And for the record I didnt say anyone elses car was shit - I said I wasn't a fan of the MR2, nothing personal honest

[The People's Hero]

oi.

Sorry Mablo - I had a fiesta too remember...! I'm not saying fiestas are sh it, in fact, I really liked mine, just that you shouldn't then go round criticising other, much better cars.

[Head Honcho]

Chances are I won't get it - being in the independent sector. Though they normally adjust our wages to reflect the change at some point. Can't really complain though - I get a higher salary (than those in similar jobs in 'mainstream' schools); generally 'nicer/easier' kids and and class sizes that approximately half those in mainstream schools.

I agree.

Shurrup, you.

Tis the nature of the public sector, I'm afraid. Doesn't matter how crap you are, as long as you can hang onto that job and stick it out you'll keep getting (fairly substantial) pay increases. It's so different to industry. Not how it should be, imo.

Oops, sorry, just tell me to shut the fu ck up then.

There is a saying "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach"

Not sure how right it is but I'm sure as in AOWW case the good teachers in the end come to the fore and either opt out of the state education system or seek promotion within it.

Teaching is an important part of our society and should be well rewarded but poor teachers backed by unions have become tolerated in schools for too long.

[Manwell Pablo]

pipe down.

Im training to become an accountant, only 19 you see.

I just can't see Primary School teaching as a tricky job? it's just my opinion.

And for the record I didnt say anyone elses car was shit - I said I wasn't a fan of the MR2, nothing personal honest

. Dealing with kids under 10, not hard?

Your off your rocker kid.

[The People's Hero]

There is a saying "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach"

Not sure how right it is but I'm sure as in AOWW case the good teachers in the end come to the fore and either opt out of the state education system or seek promotion within it.

Teaching is an important part of our society and should be well rewarded but poor teachers backed by unions have become tolerated in schools for too long.

Almost anyone backed by a union can just chill out, perform well below what taxpayers (in this case) should rightfully expect and then either a) Strike or b) Whinge until the decent payrise comes.

Not a great payrise in this case, given inflation.

The postal-workers one pis sed me off.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Oops, sorry, just tell me to shut the fu ck up then.

Grr. Included the word "new" on purpose and still get this.

[Zingari]

pity only ( some of) the maths teachers will know how much 2.45% will amount to

[The People's Hero]

AoWW isn't in the 'public sector' in the truest meaning of the word anyway, she's in the proper system, where ability, application and performance are important, rather than the apathetic and 'servant to the community- HONEST!) slacking off approach which is encouraged by the state system of blanket, across the board pay rises etc.