Government once more refuses to decide to pay suggestions as strikes hit colleges
T
he Government doubled down on its refusal to decide to accepting lecturers’ pay evaluate physique proposals, regardless of a union boss promising an finish to instructing strikes if a wage bump suggestion is obtainable.
Education minister Robert Halfon stated it was “impossible to say” what determination could be taken as he was pressed for a response to industrial motion posing disruption to colleges on Friday.
Teachers are strolling out in a long-running dispute over pay, having rejected the Government’s supply of a £1,000 one-off cost for the present college 12 months (2022/23) and a median 4.5% rise for employees subsequent 12 months.
The determination has now been handed to the unbiased School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) however ministers have refused to decide to accepting its suggestions, citing the “difficult economic circumstances”.
Mary Bousted, joint basic secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) which is taking motion, stated the chaos “could stop” if the Government agrees to the physique’s suggestions.
She instructed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This could stop. What the Government must do is publish the individual pay review body recommendations.
“If it is 6.5%, they must fund schools in order to be able to pay that. And if that were the case, I believe that this would stop, so it is in the Government’s hands.”
But Mr Halfon warned ministers wanted to stability the wants of instructing employees with the wants of the taxpayer as he toured broadcast studios on Friday.
Appearing on Sky News, he stated: “Let’s find out what the pay review body says first.
“The message from the Government is that we have to be as fair as possible, given the very difficult economic circumstances… We have to be as fair as possible to teachers and support staff, I completely get that. But we have to be fair to the taxpayer and make sure we bear down on inflation as well, as that is the biggest tax on the cost of living – that would affect everyone, teachers and support staff included.”
Pressed on whether or not ministers had modified their stance in current months on accepting pay evaluate suggestions, Mr Halfon replied: “You are asking what is impossible to say at this point in time. The pay review bodies will publish, the Government will make its decision in due course.”
No 10 stated pay evaluate physique suggestions have been acquired and that ministers are “considering” them earlier than making a call.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated consideration of a pay rise for lecturers wanted to be carried out “in the round” because of the “inflationary global headwinds” the UK is going through.
The Downing Street official stated there was no timetable for publishing the Government’s response, suggesting there was nothing to stop ministers from saying pay awards after Parliament has damaged up for its summer season recess on July 20.
Union leaders have warned that colleges may face co-ordinated strike motion by training unions within the autumn time period if a deal over pay can’t be reached.
The NEU – alongside the NASUWT instructing union, the NAHT college leaders’ union and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) – are balloting their members in England to take motion within the new college 12 months.
NEU joint basic secretary Kevin Courtney stated: “No teacher wants to be taking strike action and this week’s strike action should not have been necessary.
“The responsibility for it lies at the door of the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary who continue to refuse to re-enter negotiations with education unions to reach a settlement on a fully funded pay increase for teachers.”
The Department for Education (DfE) stated the motion would trigger disruption to pupils and fogeys and consequence within the cancellation of youngsters’s end-of-term occasions.
It is the second day of motion this week, following Wednesday’s strike which resulted in many colleges being both totally closed or restricted entry to sure teams of pupils.
The Government is following a coverage of public pay restraint as a part of a technique to curb inflation, which has led to a collection of disputes with employees.
The DfE insisted a “fair and reasonable” pay supply had been made to the unions.
A division spokesman stated: “This strike action will see the cancellation of end of term events and important transition days to secondary schools, impacting children and causing more disruption for parents.”
The DfE stated it “hugely” valued the work of lecturers and had listened to calls for for a £2 billion enhance in colleges funding.
On pay, the spokesman stated: “As part of the normal process, the independent School Teachers’ Review Body has submitted its recommendations to Government on teacher pay for 2023/24.
“We will be considering the recommendations and will publish our response in the usual way.”