Alexander Zuk, NEU member
The National Education Union has balloted members in sixth-forms for a fully funded above-inflation pay rise. The 63% turnout and 88.5% vote in favour of strike action highlight the mood of workers in this sector.
Though this dispute is about a 20% cut in real-terms pay since 2010, the response from educators indicates that the issue of pay is just scratching the surface.
Many staff in education are struggling to pay bills due to soaring energy costs. With groceries going up, and the price of full-time childcare averaging at around £200 a week, it is no surprise that there have been reports that teachers are resorting to food banks. The amount of money that many teachers are earning just isn’t enough.
In September, the Sixth Form Colleges Association offered an unfunded 5% pay award (in some areas this has increased to 8.9%). The response was almost unanimous amongst teachers: ‘Why should the college pay for this?’ Existing college funding should be used on resources for students and for the sixth forms.
With the cost-of-living crisis, sixth forms and colleges are having to put more money into providing students with essential, basic learning resources, such as laptops, internet access and stationery. Many colleges and schools now have discreet boxes of dry foodstuffs and sanitary products because students and families cannot afford them.
Extra care goes into planning ‘enrichment’ activities, like trips, because not all students have the opportunity to participate. It is clear the funding for our pay rise should come from the government, not the college.
NEU is taking industrial action on 30 November, coordinating with UCU in the universities and CWU in Royal Mail.
While neither the Tories nor Starmer’s Labour are showing signs of interest in the working class, there is a need for workers to stand together.
