Teaching union to resume industrial action over pay

Tue, 01 Sep 2020

A teaching union is to continue its industrial action over an ongoing pay dispute next week.

The National Association of Head Teachers – which represents leaders in every school on the Isle of Man, will resume action short of a strike on Monday (7 September).

Following the introduction of lockdown restrictions in March, the NAHT put its dispute with the Department for Education on hold.

However, the union has now confirmed it won’t be attending meetings with the department, producing headteacher reports for governors’ meetings, or attending training events.

It was announced in July that teachers on the Island would receive their biggest pay rise in 15 years.

The pay increase was equivalent to £1,250 on average for teachers and almost £2,000 on average for headteachers, which came into effect from today (1 September).

Main scale teachers over here received a 3.5% pay award in 2018 and 2.75% in 2019.

Speaking when the recent pay hike was announced, Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson said: ‘The recommendations recognise the outstanding contribution teachers make to our society and will help attract the most talented candidates to teach our children and young people.

‘The Isle of Man has long mirrored the agreed pay arrangements in England - so this is the biggest pay rise the profession has seen since 2005 - with above-inflation rises to the pay ranges for every single teacher. Inspirational teachers change lives and I am delighted with this move which will boost recruitment of such valued staff.’

 

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