ANGER among teachers about a pay deal accepted by their bosses has fuelled the escalation of industrial action causing widespread disruption to schools this week.
Some extra-curricular elements of the school day have fallen victim to the work-to-rule action of teachers who are members of the NASUWT, with pre- and post-school activities affected and timings for the usual school-run having to be altered.
A government attempt to end the long-running dispute at the end of last week by offering a one-off payment of £1,000 to teachers was rejected, and NASUWT negotiating secretary Marina Mauger said this had fuelled anger among the union’s members.
Mrs Mauger said that teachers had been left feeling undervalued in comparison with head teachers, who accepted an offer of a larger payment – worth up to £3,000, depending on seniority.
She said: “I’ve never known this much anger among teachers – there’s a very strong feeling that the employer has placed all of the value in the heads and none in the teachers, and that they are trying to fob us off and agree to give up bargaining rights.”
All pay groups in the public sector have been offered 7.9% pay rises, with the majority accepting the offer, but teachers have held out for a better deal in the light of what they have criticised as a series of real-terms pay cuts in recent years.
While the action by NASUWT members is set to continue indefinitely until a settlement is reached, members of the National Education Union are set to strike for three days from 12 to 14 December.
There will be new representatives from the employer when the next round of talks take place, following the resignation of Constable Andy Jehan as Assistant Chief Minister and vice-chair of the SEB.
Social Security Minister Deputy Elaine Millar has taken on Mr Jehan’s roles, with Deputy Malcolm Ferey also joining the SEB, while there have also been changes at officer level.
Following confirmation that chief people and transformation officer Mark Grimley will leave his role at the end of 2023,
Lesley Darwin has been named acting chief people officer, with responsibility for the SEB.
Ms Darwin will be supported by Sarah Goodwin as her interim deputy.
