BRIEFING FOR NUT SCHOOL REPS

School Pay Policies

National Action

AimsTo secure the best possible

school policy.To win support for national

campaign.

The salutary tale of the Capuchin Monkeys ……

http://www.upworthy.com/2-monkeys-were-paid-unequally-see-what-happens-next?g=2

ThreatsSchool Pay Policies may:

Move away from Pay Spine.

Remove right to “portability”.

Contain divisive and arbitrary progression criteria.

Use inappropriate evidence to judge progression.

Make crossing the threshold more difficult.

Limit movement on the upper spine.

What we want Reps to do:Divisions are discussing the LA model policies with LAs. BUT decisions are made at School/Academy level.

Rep Activity:-meet with membersrecruit non memberstalk to NASUWT Repmeet with head teacherreport back to members and Division

Threat One: Main Pay SpineCurrently and NUT/NASUWT Policy

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

M6

Could beMinimum or Minimum

_____

_____

_____ _____

_____

_____

_____

_____ _____

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Maximum Maximum

Threat Two: Portability

Could be: Head says “Yes, we will give you a job, but only if you take less pay”.

Currently and NUT/NASUWT Policy : if you move school, the next school has to honour your pay spine position.

Could be: Posts advertised as “main pay range only”.

Currently and NUT/NASUWT Policy: No limits on classroom teachers reaching UPS 3.

Threat three: Progression Criteria

Govt Model:Relative criteria

IfIf you’re in the top 15%, get £x

IfIf you’re in the top 30%, get £y

Otherwise get nothing!

NUT/NASUWT Criteria

Get progression unlessunless head tells you early there is a significant problem, gives you support, and you don’t manage to address it.

Govt Model:Absolute criteria

Objectives are set (which may be unreachable) IfIf you fail to meet them, get no progression.

Government now requires all pay progression to be linked to appraisal.

Further ThreatsThreat Four: Inappropriate Evidence.Could be: include for example, pupil and parent views. NUT/NASUWT policy include: only evidence arising from performance management process.Threat Five: Making crossing threshold more difficult.Could be: ask for lots of written evidence, looking back more than two years.NUT/NASUWT policy: teachers on M6 need only have two successful PMs to cross threshold.Threat Six: Limiting movement on Upper Spine.Could be: NAHT guidance says it’s “equitable” for teachers to move to “middle” of upper range if they maintain criteria and good progress towards objectives.NUT/NASUWT policy: teachers should reach maximum of Upper Spine if PMs are successful.

Talking to your head teacher Talk with members and NASUWT Rep before

seeing the head. Many heads will support our policy; don’t

assume there is a problem. If there is a problem:

• remember you are the representative of members at the school, not acting as an individual.

• tell the head you’ve been asked to report back to members and the National Union.

• if necessary, tell the head further action is possible if an agreement can’t be reached.

Arguments to influence the head teacher

Adopting a Union policy will keep staff on-side. Happy staff who feel valued are more likely to contribute

to school improvement and pupil progress. Evidence shows collaboration between teachers within

the school gets the best outcomes for pupils. Our policy meets all STPCD requirements. Our policy protects against possible grievances and

equalities issues. Our policy reduces the time that will need to be devoted

to consultation, record keeping, etc. Many other heads support our policy.

Victories are possible

For example: A NW borough adopted a very aggressive appraisal policy and refused to move when asked in talks.

Union had support from members and staged 4 day strikes in 2 primary schools, they threatened 6 day strikes in more schools.

Local Authority then changed to a compliant policy.

Share information …Keep the Division (and thereby the Union)

informed.

Building a list of schools with the right policy will really help to encourage others.

Winning in individual schools, including by threats of strikes and strikes, will encourage other heads to adopt our policy.

Winning on your school policy is not enough ..

We need a national campaign to fight for:Statutory provisions which restore national pay scales.Statutory, provisions to protect against a change of head or governors and protect you when you move school.Protections on workload and pensions as well. IfIf we don’t fight against this deregulation of pay, thenthen deregulation of conditions is next.

(NB. Threat to conditions includes 195 days, 1265 hours, 10% PPA and limits on cover, not just the 25 tasks)

National StrategyPublic facing rallies, including

- 14th September, London

- 21st September, Exeter and Cambridge (tbc)Escalating strike action:

- NW on June 27th.

- September and October everywhere else.

- National action after October half term

- and more to come.Sustained (paid) strike action in individual schools

with non-compliant pay policy.

Finally ……

Local state of play with:

• Facilities time

• Action Short of Strike Action