Teachers unite to demand better from government

Teachers from across UK are taking to Parliament Square today to demand a Better Deal for Teachers from the Government.

Members of the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union will march through London, alongside thousands of key workers, as part of the Trade Union Congress’ ‘We Demand Better’ demonstration.

Expected to be the largest trade union protest in years, working people from every sector and every corner of the country are uniting to call for action on the cost-of-living emergency.

Teachers are at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis with essential living expenses surging ahead of pay. Whilst energy bills alone soar by 54%, the value of teachers’ pay has plummeted by 19% over the last 12 years. Nine in ten teachers now report they are worried about their financial situation, according to NASUWT research.

Despite the declining value of pay, 91% of teachers are experiencing ever increasing workloads forcing 73% of teachers to seriously consider leaving their jobs.

A ‘Better Deal for Teachers’ including full pay restoration, tackling unprecedented workloads, improving wellbeing and action on the cost of living crisis must be adopted to protect the future of education and its workforce.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“The future of education is under threat: highly qualified education professionals are expected to work more for less pay and endure a cost of living crisis that continues to break records and push households into financial hardship. Teachers are seriously considering how much longer they can remain in the profession without a pay uplift and an urgent rebalancing of workload.

“The Government’s ‘tighten your belts’ approach to this crisis is not only a far cry from their transformational ‘levelling up’ promises for education, but it is also deeply insulting. The reality is that twelve years of Government’s own successive attacks on teachers’ pay has left nothing else in household budgets to tighten. We know that one in two teachers are already cutting expenditure on food and essential items. Teachers simply cannot afford further inaction from the Government.”

“Teachers will not be ignored. Our members are united in demanding a better deal for teachers and their students.

“The Government and employers must do the right thing for education: restore the value of educators’ pay, tackle unsustainable workloads and pressures on wellbeing, and invest in our children and young people’s futures.

Angela Butler, NASUWT President, said:

“Under the Government’s watch, teachers’ working hours, workload pressures and bills has gone up, but our pay covers less and less – it’s unsustainable. Too many talented teachers have already been forced out of the job they love, and more will follow if the Government and employers choose to not intervene.

“Morale in the workforce is at an all-time low, but the Government is mistaken if they think that means teachers will stand by and watch them dismantle our profession. Teachers, pupils and the country deserve better.”