Unions' anger as 4.8% teacher pay award is rejected by Welsh Govt

A SCHOOL leaders' union is to consult its members on possible industrial action after the Welsh Government confirmed it is rejecting an independent body's recommendation of a 4.8% pay award for leaders and teachers in Wales.

- By ABBIE WIGHTWICK

NAHT Cymru has responded strongly to a written statement from Education Secretary Lynne Neagle confirming that the government plans to press ahead with the 4% uplift it had instead chosen to consult on for 2025/26.

It is the first time the Welsh Government has gone below the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body recommendation on setting teachers' pay.

The Nasuwt teaching union also expressed anger, warning the rejection "set a dangerous precedent". The Nasuwt also said options remain open as to whether to go into dispute with the Welsh Government over its decision.

The Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) was established in March 2019 as an independent body with the responsibility for making recommendations to the Welsh Government on the pay and conditions of schoolteachers and leaders in Wales. Until now Cardiff Bay has always accepted its recommendations.

The 4% pay rise the Welsh Government wants is in line with the rise planned for teachers in England.

Ms Neagle has said that a higher rise would have meant cuts to school budgets elsewhere.

Teaching unions have been campaigning for pay to be incrementally restored to 2010 levels after years of below-inflation pay increases in which they say salaries lost almost a fifth of their real-term value. They acknowledge that salary restoration to pre-austerity levels all at once is not realistic but have campaignd for pay restoration incrementally.