Teachers threaten to strike over regional pay deals

The Government is considering ending the system of national pay bargaining, moving to a “sub regional, zonal system”, claiming private firms in the regions are being “squeezed out” by disproportionately high public sector pay.

The Yorkshire Post revealed that the move could see staff in areas of Yorkshire facing a decade of pay freezes, as Treasury documents revealed a 20 per cent public sector pay premium in parts of the region.

Now the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) warned there could be fresh industrial action if proposals for regional rates lead to “an all-out free for all”.

At the annual conference next week, the union is expected to debate a resolution raising concerns about the Government’s bid to reduce the role of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) – which deals with teachers’ pay and conditions - and move to local pay.

General secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “What we hope for is a banding system rather than an all-out free for all in each school. If banding is introduced then we would look at that, if that’s a reasonable settlement.

“If it’s school by school, a complete break-up, then yes, I do think that would be a focus of industrial action by the union.”

Meanwhile a new study has claimed workers in some cities outside London and the South East could suffer wage cuts of up to 17 per cent. Research by jobs website Adzuna.co.uk found that the West Country, the Midlands and the North of England will be hardest hit, especially cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast and Cardiff.

Doug Monro, of Adzuna, said: “Workers will always be paid a premium where demand outstrips supply, but the changes could well affect the prosperity of the regions and lead to even more migration into an overcrowded London.”