Pay cuts hitting disabled teachers

Teachers with disabilities say they are worried about their financial situation, with the cost of living crisis and years of real terms teachers’ pay cuts compounding the financial vulnerabilities typically experienced by workers with disabilities

Members attending the NASUWT-The Teachers Union Disabled Teachers’ Consultation Conference today in Birmingham and online reported the continuing struggles they are experiencing, both financially and also in terms of discrimination and prejudice in the workplace.

A real time polling session of delegates found that:

• Three-quarters say they have been subjected to ableism from their employer;
• 80% said they have been prevented from progressing in their careers due to their disabilities;
• 60% feel ableist attitudes and abuse have increased in the past 12 months

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said:

“Year on year pay cuts by the government have left many disabled teachers in a desperate position and worried about their finances. 

The failure to provide a real-terms pay increase to teachers is hitting disabled teachers particularly hard as their finances are more likely to be precarious than non-disabled workers due to the prejudice they experience.

“Our evidence shows that disabled teachers are more likely to be struggling to make ends meet, more likely to need access to in-work state benefits, and more likely to be accessing food banks regularly. Disabled teachers are also less likely to gain access to pay progression and promotion in schools, but more likely to be forced out of their jobs by school employers who are unwilling to meet the costs of making reasonable adjustments for staff. 

“If the government is committed to equality for disabled teachers then the Chancellor must ensure that school budgets are not only protected, but increased in real terms. 

“We also need to see stronger regulation from the government to guarantee rights for disabled teachers and a mandatory duty on employers to publish data on their disability pay gaps and action plans.

“The government cannot continue to expect disabled teachers to pay the price for the cost of living crisis and further spending cuts.

“Our members are clear that disabled teachers and all teachers deserve a real pay rise. The government needs urgently to act on teachers’ concerns or face the prospect of industrial action in the new year.”