The National Education Union has begun a formal strike ballot of around 400 teacher members working at 14 of United Learning’s independent schools in a dispute over pay.
The employer’s pay offer is between 2-3%, depending on the workplace. This is insulting. If it were to be adopted, this would see teachers’ pay rates in many of the trust’s independent schools fall even further below the levels set by the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document for state schools with a number of schools falling below this level for the first time.
The union is calling on United Learning to address longstanding pay erosion in the 14 schools with an 8% pay offer. We are seeking a commitment of parity with pay scales in the state sector.
This is the first time there has been a national ballot at the trust, one of the largest operators of independent schools in the UK.
The ballot opens today (26 February) and closes on 26 March, with action anticipated for week commencing 28 April.
Commenting on the launch of the ballot, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“It is regrettable that United Learning has pushed so many of our members to this point. The pay offer to those working in its 14 independent schools is not only inadequate but insulting.
“We cannot allow a two-tier pay system to stand, especially within the trust itself. United Learning will find it harder to recruit and retain teachers, if pay falls further behind other state and independent schools. It makes no sense to persist with this self-defeating strategy of under-paying staff.
“Strike action is always a last resort. Our members care deeply about education and its role in transforming pupils’ lives. They do no less a job than their state school counterparts and should be renumerated accordingly.”
Editor’s Note
The following United Learning independent schools are being balloted:
AKS Lytham (Lancs)
Ashford School (Kent)
Banstead Prep (Surrey)
Coworth-Flexlands (Surrey)
Dunottar School (Surrey)
Embley School (Hants)
Godolphin School (Salisbury)
Guildford High School (Surrey)
Lincoln Minster School (Lincs)
Rowan Prep (Surrey)
The Royal School (Surrey)
St Ives School (Surrey)
Surbiton High School (Surrey)
Tranby School (Hull)