Mersey teachers poised to strike in pay rise protest

Apr 2 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE teachers are set to strike for the first time in over 21 years.

More than 2,000 Liverpool teachers and teachers from the Wirral and other councils are expected to march across Liverpool city centre in a protest over pay rises.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has confirmed a national walk-out after members voted for industrial action over pay.

The Government announced a 2.45% pay rise for teachers in England and Wales this year with further rises of 2.3% in 2009 and 2010.

The NUT said a ballot of its 255,000 members found a majority of those who voted were in favour of a one-day strike over pay.

The union is demanding a 10% pay rise or £3,000 – whichever is the greatest – for every teacher in England and Wales this September.

Julie Lyon-Taylor, Merseyside’s NUT spokesman, said: “There was an overwhelming vote yes to strike.

“The offer of 2.45% doesn’t reflect the interest on student loans of 4.8%, housing costs, inflation and the cost of petrol or fuel.

“It is a last resort, but we have to act when 50% of new teachers walk away within three years.

“They are basically working for longer for less pay.”

But education chiefs have raised concerns the strike will cripple classrooms across the country.

Millions of pupils are expected to be turned away from schools, forcing parents to miss work or arrange child care.

City councillor Erica Kemp, executive member for children’s services, has urged more talks between the NUT and government.

Concerned the strike would affect pupils and cause disruption to exam preparations, Cllr Kemp said: “Ultimately, I would be sad if they had to resort to this as it would be pupils and the young people of the city who miss out.”

Teachers voted three to one in favour of the strike, but with just a third of members voting critics have said it doesn’t represent a full mandate for strike action.

Ian Andain, headteacher at Broadgreen Technology College, said: “With such a small proportion of members voting, I wonder if there is a rationale for a strike.

“I would have hoped the NUT might have waited for the Government pay review which is triggered by a change in the rate of inflation.”

He added:“I don’t believe new teachers leave because of pay, I think they leave for lots of reasons.

“People don’t enter the profession for the money, for some it’s just not what they expected or don’t enjoy teaching.

“It’s too early to say how the strike will affect schools because it will be up to individual teachers and schools to decide.

“But the timing will cause disruption to exam preparation and I’m sure teachers won’t want to jeopardise the life chances of students sitting external exams.”

The proposed April 24 strike will come one week before local government elections.

The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) spokesman said: “The NAHT regards industrial action over the pay award as inappropriate whilst understanding that there is some risk to recruitment of top graduates into the teaching profession.

“The School Teachers Review Board (STRB) has, however, made clear its intention to revisit the proposed awards for 2009 and 2010, in the light of further evidence.

“That evidence is far more likely to influence both STRB and the Government than strike action.”

OPINION: PAGE 12

laurasharpe