NEU members to meet and discuss National Pay Campaign

As reported by the NEU, in an escalation of the union campaign for cost of living increases to match inflation, NEU members working in private schools will meet to discuss their own National Pay Campaign

At the NEU Independent Sector conference in November 2022, members overwhelming endorsed a motion, calling for the NEU to mount a national pay campaign in the independent sector for a pay increase of not less than the Retail Price Index plus.

At an online meeting this week – the week after the NEU state sector strike ballot is announced – NEU JGS, Dr Mary Bousted, will call on all NEU independent school memberships to submit a union collective NEU pay claim in their individual school.

“Our 32,000 members -teachers and support staff – who work in independent schools are suffering one of the greatest cost of living crisis’s in living memory. Many are suffering real hardship. Inflation has hit a 40 year high. The Retail Price Index for the year to November 2022 running at 14%. Once upon a time an increase of four per cent might have cut the mustard. Now that would be a whopping 10% lower than inflation. Something must be done. And if employers are not going to do it, then our members will.”

Members will also hear from leading activists in the sector, including Brian Metcalf, NEU National Executive, and NEU representatives from Winchester College where a historic strike a ballot over pay is currently underway. NEU independent sector workplace reps will also be encouraged to liaise with their counterparts in local or comparable schools with a view to greater coordination in the sector.

It is anticipated that February will see an upsurge in pay claims. This is the optimum time to influence the decision for the following academic year, as the first draft budgets are presented later month. Budgets are firmed up around Easter and confirmed in the summer.