08 March 2002
As members of the National Union of Teachers voted for a one-day strike over London allowances, Morris accused teachers of forcing a return to the 'Dark Ages of dispute and conflict'.
Speaking on March 5, Morris even hit out at the generally moderate head teachers over their proposed boycott of her performance management regime.
She said: 'How can we build the morale of teachers nationally if they are denied rewards for good performance by their own heads? What can I say to parents in London if their children's education is disrupted by strike action over the London weighting allowance, which last year rose by 30%?'
The NUT wants the London living allowances increased by more than a third, from £3,000 to £4,000-plus, while the Department for Education and Skills has offered just 3.5% – £105.
The unions were outraged by Morris's comments. The normally co-operative National Association of Head Teachers said the education secretary's statements were 'unbelievable'.
General secretary David Hart said: 'The last people in the education world who need a lesson from the secretary of state on public service reform are head teachers. The government is just plain wrong on the issue of performance management and performance-related pay. If parents knew that books, equipment and staffing will have to be raided to pay for the government's performance-related pay scheme, they would be up in arms.'
Accusing the education secretary of trying to set up an 'Aunt Sally', NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said: 'Now is not the time for the distraction caused by the education secretary.'
He added: 'The government has been warned by the Teachers' Review Body that its performance-related pay system will worsen the problem of recruitment and retention.'
Morris looks set to receive a hostile reception at the Easter teaching conferences – she is due to address the NUT, of which she is a long-standing member.
PFmar2002
