Headteachers and school leaders say they will continue to work to rule in a row over pay and conditions coinciding with the teachers’ strike. Members of the NAHT Cymru said the renewed pay offer from the Welsh Government was too vague and didn’t address their concerns over workload.
Tasks they won't do include meetings after 5pm and providing cover for striking teachers, or information on who is striking. They will also restrict their availability to receive or respond to calls and emails before 9am or after 3pm.
The NAHT Cymru said it will not go ahead with a planned ballot of members on the new offer from the Welsh Government “due to a lack of detail and transparency” and will continue to work to rule. Last week Cardiff Bay announced an improved pay offer, an agreement to reopen pay negotiations for 2023/24 and a commitment on workload in an effort to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute with education unions.
Read more: The figure that shows why teachers are on strike in Wales
NAHT Cymru officials said lack of details on proposals, timescales and implementation, coupled with continued concerns over funding have stalled progress. At a meeting of the union’s membership, it was announced that the union’s executive officers would not move forward with a planned ballot at this time and industrial action would continue.
To get our free daily briefing on the biggest issues affection the nation, Wales Matters, click here
The Welsh Government's renewed would see teachers get a further 1.5% pay rise and a one off cash bonus also equivalent to 1.5% of a teacher's salary on top of the 5% initially offered. You can read more details of the offer here.
NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman, said: “It was encouraging to see the Welsh Government come forward with an offer to resolve the dispute, however, it’s crucial that members have all the details necessary to make an informed decision on whether these proposals go far enough.
“While it’s certainly important the government begins to seriously tackle the 22% drop in school leader pay in Wales since 2010, the recruitment and retention crisis in schools is also being fuelled by crippling workload pressures which are affecting the ability of leaders and staff to offer children the education they deserve.
“It’s therefore disappointing that the Welsh Government has so far been unable to back up its warm words on workload with details of tangible reforms to reduce bureaucracy.”
NAHT Cymru director, Laura Doel said reducing workload and tackling the issue of school funding would be crucial in resolving the ongoing dispute. She added: “ While we continue to work through our workload concerns with the government, there must be commitment for change, not just discussion.”
In the meantime, NAHT will be continuing its action short of strike following its recent ballot on industrial action. The action is continuous until further notice.
These are the things headteachers are refusing to do during work to rule:
The continued work to rule means that members of the NAHT Cymru who are employed as headteachers, deputy headteachers, assistant headteachers and middle leaders will:
- Restrict availability to receive or respond to calls and emails before 9am or after 3pm
- Abstain from attending meetings after 5pm
- Refuse to facilitate unsolicited school visits or take part in non-statutory consultations, surveys, projects, meetings, government, local authority or Consortia webinars or data requests
- Abstain from involvement in any staff appraisal or redundancy process
- Abstain from facilitating or arranging cover for those taking part in any industrial action
- Refuse to provide information regarding staff participation in industrial action
- Refuse to engage with Estyn, which inspects education and training providers in Wales, beyond statutory requirements
On school funding, Ms Doel continued to raise concerns about the transparency, citing the £117m handed to local authorities in its entirety from Westminster, via the Welsh Government.
“The Welsh Government asked unions to join them in their call for additional funding for Wales. We delivered on our promise to do so and used our influence at Westminster to lobby for more money. Money came through, that money was given in its entirety to the local authorities with a clear direction that it was for education. But when school leaders across Wales continue to talk staffing cuts due to lack of funding, you have to question where that money has gone?”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are disappointed that NAHT have not proceeded with their ballot. However, its positive that they recognise good progress has been made in a number of areas.
“We have presented a good package on workload, and we look forward to working urgently to address the remaining issues so that NAHT will then ballot members. The full £117 million consequential from education spending in the Autumn Statement has been provided to local government to fund schools."
Read next:
- How much teachers get paid in Wales: The full salary scale from £28,866
- “Schools are at breaking point,” says former teacher who left to run children’s wellbeing education sessions
- Parents warned as norovirus cases soar in schools and nurseries
- 13 things we've learnt from the Welsh Government budget announcement
- Nursing, ambulance and midwife unions suspend strike in Wales for now to consider pay offer from Welsh Government
