Members of the National Union of Teachers at Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Gorseinon recently took one-day strike action in protest at the way the new TLR (Teaching & Learning Responsibilities) pay structure has been introduced, resulting in cuts in salary for many teachers.

NUT Wales secretary, David Evans said, “The NUT was not party to the settlement which established this new pay structure. It gives us no pleasure to say that we foresaw problems from the start. Despite this, we want to make things work harmoniously and we would be happy to continue negotiating to resolve a problem not of our making.

“Most schools are introducing the new structure gradually and make every effort to make sure that teachers do not suffer huge cuts in their salaries. At Penyrheol we were staggered not only by the number of teachers losing money but by how much money was being cut from their salaries.

“The original plan adversely affected no fewer than 17 staff. The current figure is less – but only because some of those staff due to lose money voted with their feet and left.

“The total annual amount of money lost by a group of 9 NUT members at the school is close to £20,000. This is unacceptable and intolerable to us as a union. Our first duty is to defend the pay and conditions of service of our members. No union would could or should meekly accept such huge cuts in their members’ take-home pay packets.

“Money is not the only consideration. The way this new pay structure has
been imposed has undermined staff morale and damaged the careers of staff who had successfully sought promotion within the school and now find their pay packets cut through no fault of their own. In fact, in a cruel double whammy, many staff have lost pay and been demoted.

“The last Estyn inspection of the school reported positively on the school’s leadership team. Many of them find themselves targeted under the new structure. Some are being driven to early retirement because if they stay in post they will lose large amounts of money which, in turn, will have a damaging effect on their future pensions.

“The headteacher has said that there and more winners than losers on the staff. What he does not make clear is that the winners generally gain some hundreds of pounds, while the losers face salary cuts of thousands of pounds.

“In most schools one of the priorities has been to avoid demotivating staff. At Penyrheol many staff feel that they have suffered a metaphorical slap in the face. This has increased teachers’ stress after what has, in any case, been a difficult year for the school. The strike at Penyrheol was in response to high-handed and insensitive treatment of committed and hard-working teachers. The more the headteacher digs his feet in the more damaging is the effect to staff morale.

“We urge the headteachers and governing body to look again at the pay structure. We also call on local authority education authority to step in with its support and advice. The City and County of Swansea has a duty of care for its employees. We call upon the Authority to exercise this duty of care in the case of the teachers at Penyrheol Comprehensive School.”