Teachers' deal fails

Fri 18 Jan 2008

Unions have reacted angrily to the government's proposed pay increases for teachers.

Representatives of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), GMB, Unison and Unite have spoken out after the schools secretary, Ed Balls proposed a 2.45 per cent pay rise.

NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said: "This pay settlement of 2.45 per cent for 2008 is well below the rate of inflation of four per cent which was also announced today."

"The NUT Executive will be meeting next week and I have no doubt they will want a robust response".

The increase has been set above the government's estimated future inflation rate, calculated by using the consumer prices index (CPI).

"It is consistent with the achievement of the CPI inflation target of two per cent [and] is affordable," claimed Mr Balls.

Unhappy with the deal, Mr Sinnott warned: "This will reduce the standard of living for teachers and exacerbate the problems of recruitment and retention."