Heads in Wales to not vote on pay offer

As reported by the BBC, a union representing Wales’ school leaders has said the latest Welsh government pay offer is not worth putting forward to members

National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Cymru has put a planned ballot on hold due to a ‘lack of detail and transparency’ on the latest deal. The union also claimed schools in Wales were yet to benefit from £117m given to local authorities from Westminster.

Teachers are set to strike again next month despite a 6.5% pay rise offer.

The Welsh government said it is not bluffing when it claims there is no extra money to offer to striking teachers with other sectors also locked in industrial disputes, but NAHT Cymru described the improved offer, which includes an additional 1.5% as a one-off payment this year, and a commitment on workload, as ‘positive’.

NAHT Cymru director Laura Doel added: “There must be commitment for change, not just discussion.

“Reducing workload and tackling the issue of school funding is going to be crucial in resolving this dispute.”

Teachers in the National Education Union (NEU) will walk out on 2, 15 and 16 March and NAHT members will continue with ‘soft’ strike action which means head and deputy headteachers will effectively restrict their working hours to between 0900 and 1700, as well as abstaining from extra meetings, appraisals or inspections.