NASUWT statement ahead of talks with DFE

The Secretary of State has called a meeting with teacher trade unions to be held on Wednesday, 15 February 2023.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“Whilst we welcome the opportunity to meet again with the Government to discuss our ongoing pay dispute, we now need to hear specific proposals from the Education Secretary which will address our members’ concerns.

“After a number of meetings, it is unacceptable that Ministers have still failed to come forward with any proposals for our members to consider.

“Our members’ patience is being sorely tested. Further dithering and delay will only deepen the anger of teachers who are enduring excessive workload pressures coupled with the largest real-terms cuts to their pay on record.

“Resolution of our dispute can only be achieved if Ministers are prepared to put proposals on the table which can provide a basis for negotiation and agreement.

“Ministers cannot continue to play for time. We need to see concrete proposals from the Government which can form the basis for a negotiated settlement of this dispute.

“The NASUWT will again be pressing Ministers on measures to address the significant real terms decline in teachers’ pay and to address the underlying causes of the continuing teacher recruitment and retention crisis which is blighting children’s education.”