UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The NEU plans to campaign against Labour MPs if the government pay offer to teachers remains inadequate, for teachers in England.
As reported by The Guardian, the National Education Union threatens to campaign against Labour MPs if the teachers’ pay offer in England remains unchanged.
What did Daniel Kebede say about Labour’s handling of teacher pay and school funding?
At the NEU conference, General Secretary Daniel Kebede slammed Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for betraying their voters. He urged industrial action if the government fails to improve its pay and funding offer for teachers.
He told delegates,
“Government says it would be indefensible for the NEU to take industrial action. Well I say to this government: it is indefensible for a Labour government – a Labour government! – to cut school funding.”
Kebede stated,
“If the STRB recommendation is not above inflation, if it is not a pay award that takes a step towards a correction in pay, if it does not address the crisis in [teacher] recruitment and retention, and unless it is fully funded, then we stand ready to act industrially.”
During his speech, he added,
“While this government might be rolling out the red carpet for Farage to walk into No 10, through their austerity agenda, we won’t stand for it.”
The union general secretary stated,
“Farage wants war, that’s fine – but I want our union to continue to live rent-free in his head as we organise for an education system and society where any child regardless of background, of colour, of religion, feels safe, happy and can flourish.”
Referring to Adolescence, he warned of rising misogyny in schools, attributing it to social media and the availability of violent content.
Mr Kebede said,
“We are in a safeguarding crisis. And it is being fuelled by tech companies that prioritise profits over people, engagement over ethics, and algorithms over accountability,”
adding,
“We cannot entrust this technology to the Silicon Valley tech bros who are only in it for the money.”
During the NEU conference in Harrogate, members rejected the government’s proposal, calling it inadequate. They decided to move forward with a formal ballot for industrial action if the offer remains unchanged and school funding is not raised to cover the additional salary costs.
DfE’s 2.8% pay rise recommendation faces teacher budget concerns
The Department for Education has proposed a 2.8% increase for the 2025-26 pay award, to be assessed by the independent School Teachers’ Review Body. While the DfE has not yet disclosed the STRB’s results, Mr Kebede stated that any result must surpass inflation and include adjustments for school funding.
In response to NEU’s move, the DfE labeled the NEU’s stance “premature,” arguing that it was made before the STRB’s final report had been released.
What did Bridget Phillipson say about the NEU’s strike plans?
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, “With school staff, parents and young people working so hard to turn the tide on school attendance, any move towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible.”
She added, “Following a 5.5% pay award in a hugely challenging fiscal context, I would urge NEU to put children first.”
Teacher pay crisis
- Teachers in England have seen a 13% real-term pay cut since 2010 (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2023).
- The government’s proposed 2.8% pay increase for 2024-25 is below the current CPI inflation rate of 4.6% (ONS, April 2024).
- 40% of teachers leave the profession within five years, with workload and low pay cited as key reasons (DfE, 2023).
- 62% of parents support teachers taking strike action over pay disputes (YouGov, 2024).
Teachers pay in England
Qualified Teachers (QTS)
- England (excl. London): £31.6k – £49.0k
- London Fringe: £33.0k – £50.4k
- Outer London: £36.4k – £53.9k
- Inner London: £38.7k – £60.0k
Leading Practitioners (LP)
- For teachers with strong teaching skills & leadership roles
- Range: £50.0k – £85.5k (varies by area)
Headteachers (HT)
- Senior-most position in schools
- Range: £56.3k – £147.5k depending on school size/location
Unqualified Teachers (UQT)
- Teachers without QTS but working in some schools
- Range: £21.7k – £39.4k
Additional Pay
- TLR Payments: Up to £16.5k for extra duties (e.g., HoD)
- SEN Allowances: For working in SEND roles
Pension Perks
- 28.6% employer contribution
- Defined Benefit Plan (salary-based, not contribution-based)