One of Wales' leading teaching unions has rejected an improved offer from Welsh Government. NASUWT, which represents headteachers and teachers across the UK, said 69% of respondents who it consulted voted to reject the offer tabled last month.
It comes after hundreds of schools were forced to shut in Wales earlier this month after several teaching unions staged strike action in their dispute over pay and conditions. Teachers say low pay has led to a recruitment and retention issue and increased pressure on staff, and have called for a pay increase closer to the rate of inflation, currently around 10%.
Strike action was paused after Welsh Government tabled an improved offer last week of an additional 1.5% salary on top of its previous offer of 5%. The offer also included a cash bonus on top of the salary hike equivalent to a further 1.5% of a worker's salary, but which would not repeat in future years. But NASUWT said the revised offer was not enough to resolve the dispute.
The National Education Union (NEU) Cymru last week rejected the Welsh Government offer and confirmed it will again strike on March 2. 15 and 16. NASUWT has not announced any further action but said it was committed to balloting its members again unless an improved offer was put on the table.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: "While we acknowledge that the Welsh Government finally brought a new offer to the table after many months of requests, the fact remains that the revised offer represents a further real terms pay cut for teachers.
“The fact that the majority of members have told us they reject this offer reflects both the depth of anger among teachers at the years of cuts to their pay and the significant impact which the cost of living crisis is having on their finances.
“We are also concerned about the lack of detail from the Welsh Government to a number of its proposals, and it is disappointing that we are yet to receive satisfactory answers to a number of questions we have raised.
“The NASUWT is committed to a further industrial action ballot of members in Wales unless an improved offer is forthcoming.”
Neil Butler, NASUWT National Official Wales, said: "We remain in dispute with the Welsh Government over teachers’ pay. It is clear that members support our view that a competitive and just pay award for teachers which will support recruitment and retention into the profession is more than necessary, it is essential.
“The Welsh Government must come forward with a further pay offer which addresses seriously the real-terms erosion of teachers’ salaries since 2010 which has happened on their watch.”
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