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NUT ORAL EVIDENCE TO THE SCHOOL TEACHERS’ REVIEW BODY
On 15 October the NUT gave oral evidence to the STRB on issues arising from the STRB’s remit, following its earlier written evidence. The NUT was represented by the Acting General Secretary, the President, members of the National Executive and senior officials.
The NUT’s representatives noted that teachers wanted a return to collective bargaining and questioned the independence of the STRB. Teachers had suffered de facto pay cuts since 2005 and the NUT rejected the 2.3 per cent pay increase for 2009 that had been provisionally recommended by the STRB. With inflation above 5 per cent, teachers felt undervalued and demoralised. There was clear evidence to support a higher pay increase, which was needed to support teacher recruitment and retention.
The STRB had said that its 2.3 per cent recommendation was subject to a further review in 2009. In response, the NUT’s representatives reminded the STRB of the failure of its previous review mechanisms to protect teachers’ pay against inflation. The NUT urged the STRB to address the issue of pay now.
The NUT’s representatives highlighted the need for a list of teachers’ duties in the Pay and Conditions Document, with a clear indication of duties for each group of teachers. The NUT also expressed concerns about teachers’ working time. The evidence of workload surveys, showing increases in teachers’ working hours, showed that the workload agreement had not worked. More PPA time and management time was needed, along with action on lesson planning.
The NUT’s representatives went on to highlight the importance of continuing professional development. The NUT hoped that the STRB would anticipate the new statutory right to request training, expected in 2010, and raised the issue of equal rights to training for part-time teachers.
On leadership group pay, the NUT was not convinced of the need for fundamental reform of the current structure. Pay comparability with those with similar levels of responsibility in professions outside of teaching was the key issue for leadership group teachers. Other leadership group issues discussed included pay in federations.
The NUT’s representatives highlighted the importance of SEN allowances as a discrete part of the pay structure, different in kind from TLR payments. The NUT favoured nationally prescribed allowances combined with a pro rata approach for teachers who did not reach the threshold for payment of the full allowance. Teachers in PRUs needed to be given SEN allowances. The NUT also highlighted: key problems with the RIG proposals on SEN allowances;the need for support for schools in relation to School Action Plus; the need for more teachers to move to SEN2 on the basis of their experience;and the need for professional development.
The NUT highlighted the failure of the Excellent Teacher Scheme, which the NUT wished to see abolished. The ETS had replaced UPS4 and UPS5 and the NUT favoured the restoration of these pay points.