The Welsh Government has tonight made a revised pay offer to teachers adding 3% more to the original 5% offer in a bid to avert next week's planned strike. If union members agree the new offer teachers would get an 8% pay rise back dated to September 2022.
Half of the extra 3% is "consolidated" meaning it's a one off payment to end the strike rather than part of a pay deal that would impact on next year's pay negotiations, a union official said. National Education Union Cymru officials are meeting tonight to discuss whether to accept the offer or not - they may also decide to put it to members.
It is not clear whether the 8%, along with commitments to deal with workload "in the short, medium and long term" is enough, or on time, to end next week's strikes. A last minute revised offer to NHS staff saw health unions call off their walk out.
Read more: The reasons teachers in Wales gave for going on strike
Hundreds of schools across Wales shut last week as teachers and support staff left classrooms. The action was mirrored across the border.
David Evans, Wales Secretary of the NEU Cymru, said the new offer would be put to the NEU executive this evening. Further strikes had been planned for February 14, March 15 and March 16.
Mr Evans said: "NEU Cymru members will be pleased that the Welsh Government continues to take negotiations seriously. We have received a revised offer in terms of pay - and had discussions on workload," Mr Evans said.
"As a democratic body, the next thing will be for our executive members to decide if the offer is sufficient to put it to the membership more widely. We will be holding a meeting of our executive this evening to discuss this offer.
“Meanwhile, we remain committed to discussing next year’s pay offer with the Minister now that he has agreed to reopen the process. We will be able to update you again in due course."
Announcing the revised offfer a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Following continued discussions, we can confirm that an enhanced pay offer has been made to teaching and headteacher trade unions.
“In addition to the 5% pay rise, the revised pay offer comprises an additional 3%, of which 1.5% is consolidated. Also included in this revised package are a number of significant non-pay commitments relating to workload in the short, medium and long term.
“We would like to thank everyone who has participated in these constructive negotiations. We now await a formal response from the trade unions.”
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At the same time as teachers striking headteachers in the NAHT Cymru are also working to rule. Ministers in Wales last week made an offer of a one off payment to teachers estimated to be worth "a few hundred pound" per person but that was far lower than offered to health workers and was rejected by the NEU last week.
Responding to the revised offer Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, which is balloting members for possible action, said:
“We welcome the improved pay offer for teachers and leaders, and the commitment to reduce systemic pressures which are driving unsustainable levels of workload. Both issues – pay and workload – are vital to addressing the teacher recruitment and retention crisis and enabling schools to put teachers in front of classes."
“We will now discuss this offer with our senior elected members. We also welcome the commitment given to us by local authorities in Wales that they will ensure that Welsh government funding will be passed on to schools in full to ensure they are able to pay these awards. "
Planned strikes by nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and one of the ambulance unions were called off after the Welsh Government offered staff in the health services an extra 3% - half as a one-off payment and half added to their base salary you can read more about that here.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has previously said he was considering raising income tax to fund public sector pay rises but decided not to as people in Wales are currently being taxed more than ever before. You can read the full interview with him here where he also said that the strikes were unlikely to be resolved until there was a resolution in England.
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