TEACHING unions are to ballot their members on a fresh pay offer from the government in a development which could signal a breakthrough in the year-long dispute.
Both the main teaching unions – the NASUWT and NEU – will be putting a proposed new deal to its members, which has arisen out of crunch talks with the States Employment Board in recent days.
In addition to the 7.9% pay increase for 2023, teachers have also been offered 8% with effect from 1 January 2024, a one-off payment of £1,000 on the same date, and pay increases for 2025 and 2026 equivalent to the rate of inflation.
Members of the NASUWT have agreed to suspend their work-to-rule industrial action, with effect from this morning, while a ballot takes place.
Negotiating secretary Marina Mauger said there was no recommendation from NASUWT leaders to members, with the ballot due to close on 15 December.
“We have made significant progress, and I am encouraged – now it’s up to our members,” she said. “We are also continuing the talks about new terms and conditions, and have made good progress there.”
The NEU, the other main teaching union, has also confirmed that it is initiating a ballot of members regarding the new offer.
Caryn Symons, NEU senior regional officer, said that as things stood the three days of strike action called by members for 12 to 14 December were still scheduled to go ahead, with an update to follow later this week after members had been consulted.
The JEP understands that the new offer is conditional on teachers’ providing double the minimum notice to their employer of any future strike action, from seven to 14 days.
The States Employment Board made a 7.9% offer to all public sector workers for 2023, which was gradually accepted by different employee groups.
Most recently the offer was accepted by headteachers after one-off payments worth up to £3,000, depending on seniority, were added, a move which angered rank-and-file teachers as their dispute rumbled on.
