By Vivienne Russell | 28 May 2012
The two largest teaching unions in England and Wales have made a ‘historic agreement’ to work together to protect teachers’ pay and conditions and defend education.
The National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, which between them represent 85% of the teaching profession, have written to Education Secretary Michael Gove requesting urgent discussions about threats to teacher morale.
In particular, the unions are highlighting teachers’ ‘excessive’ workload, pension reforms which will require teachers to work until 68 or beyond to get a full pension, and proposals for locally-set and performance-related pay.
Should they not secure an agreement with government before the start of the next academic year, the unions say they will launch a programme of jointly co-ordinated industrial action, including strike action.
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said the government had launched a ‘relentless and unprecedented’ attack on teachers’ pay and working conditions.
‘This assault on teachers is damaging standards of education,’ she said.
‘Our two unions, which represent the overwhelming majority of the teaching profession, are united in our determination to defend education by protecting teachers.’
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, added: ‘Occasionally saying we have the best generation of teachers we’ve ever had in no way compensates for the onslaught of attacks and threats to pay, pensions and working conditions.
‘We need to stand together to protect our profession and the education system. It is more important than ever that we work together to achieve these goals for all our members.’
The two largest teaching unions in England and Wales have made a ‘historic agreement’ to work together to protect teachers’ pay and conditions and defend education.
The National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, which between them represent 85% of the teaching profession, have written to Education Secretary Michael Gove requesting urgent discussions about threats to teacher morale.
In particular, the unions are highlighting teachers’ ‘excessive’ workload, pension reforms which will require teachers to work until 68 or beyond to get a full pension, and proposals for locally-set and performance-related pay.
Should they not secure an agreement with government before the start of the next academic year, the unions say they will launch a programme of jointly co-ordinated industrial action, including strike action.
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said the government had launched a ‘relentless and unprecedented’ attack on teachers’ pay and working conditions.
‘This assault on teachers is damaging standards of education,’ she said.
‘Our two unions, which represent the overwhelming majority of the teaching profession, are united in our determination to defend education by protecting teachers.’
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, added: ‘Occasionally saying we have the best generation of teachers we’ve ever had in no way compensates for the onslaught of attacks and threats to pay, pensions and working conditions.
‘We need to stand together to protect our profession and the education system. It is more important than ever that we work together to achieve these goals for all our members.’
