NUT SSEE RESEARCH BRIEFING: STRB REVIEW OF LOCAL PAY AND PRP (MAY 2012)

The Government has asked the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) to review the teachers’ pay structure and in particular to look at making teachers’ pay ‘more market facing’ and promoting greater links between pay and performance. This briefing looks at the DfE proposals and the responses made by the NUT and other organisations.

DfE proposals

The Chancellor announced in November 2011 that he wanted to implement more local and regional approaches to pay in the public sector. Before that, the Government had said in its Coalition Programme that it would pursue greater flexibility in the national pay structure for teachers and greater PRP.

In its evidence to the STRB, the DfE has put forward a range of options for the STRB to consider. These range from complete deregulation of teachers' pay, abolishing all national pay scales in favour of pay determination at school level, through to retention of the current structure but with an extension of PRP and local pay. It has backed away from the concept of regional pay scales within the national pay structure but advocates increased zonal pay arrangements for particular "hotspot" areas. Any of these options would be damaging to teachers' interests and the NUT is working with others to oppose their implementation.

The DfE claims that reform of the current pay system for teachers is fundamental to driving up teacher quality, arguing that the current pay system is complex and inflexible, does not support recruitment and retention and does not respond to local labour markets. DfE press briefings have indicated that complete deregulation is what the Secretary of State actually wants even though that is only one of the options in the DfE submission.

NUT response

The NUT has rejected the DfE proposals, calling for the retention of the existing national pay structure. The NUT has rejected the concept of local pay and any extension of PRP, calling instead for the removal of existing PRP provisions in teaching.

The NUT has published its own submission (available on the NUT website) which sets out a clear statement of NUT policy on teachers’ pay and conditions, including the need for a substantial pay increase for all teachers and the restoration of collective bargaining rights.

The NUT has also made a joint submission on local pay with ASCL, ATL, NAHT, UCAC and Voice, which included two independent research reports conducted by the Labour Research Department and Incomes Data Services.

The DfE’s consistent suggestions that they want to pay some teachers more, while rarely mentioning paying other teachers less, are a clear attempt to mislead the profession. The DfE proposals would not reduce the pay structure's complexity but would, rather, increase it. National pay scales are not complex and the structure is straightforward.

Local pay would not help raise standards. It would inhibit teacher mobility and create long-term shortages in areas where pay was reduced. It offends against the principles of equal pay for work of equal value and is potentially discriminatory. Pay determination processes would become more expensive and more bureaucratic. It is not in common use in the private sector and would not assist economic recovery.

Pay issues - including also the proposed further pay freeze for 2012-13 and pay restraint in the years beyond - will become a major part of the NUT 's campaigning as the year continues.

Local Government Employers

The employers have clear reservations about local pay, arguing that the existing national pay framework already provides sufficient local flexibility to take account of local labour markets. There was no evidence of support from around 90% of local authorities for moves towards local pay. They have, however, called for further links between pay and performance and said it should be possible to move teachers down the pay scales as well as up if teacher performance fell short (ie from the UPS down to the MPS).

Other Teaching Unions

Submissions have also been published by ATL, ASCL, NASUWT, NAHT, Voice and UCAC. All opposed local pay and argued strongly for the retention of a national pay framework for teachers. With the unfortunate exception of the NAHT, they have all rejected the introduction of further links between pay and performance.

Governors

The NGA said thatbringing teachers’ pay in line with local market conditions could be counterproductive and create recruitment difficulties. NGA members did not raise lack of flexibility as a barrier to recruitment and retention. There appeared to be a consensus among NGA members that movement up the pay spine should not simply relate to years in post.

Wales

The Welsh Assembly Government has submitted views, following consultation with employers, unions and governors in Wales. Again, this did not support regional or local pay, preferring the maintenance of a national pay structure.

Next Steps

All organisations now have the opportunity to make supplementary submissions before the STRB submits its report to the Secretary of State in the autumn.

SSEE DEPT.

May 2012

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