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Teachers to vote over pay strikes Teachers to vote over pay strikes
(30 minutes later)
The National Union of Teachers has voted at its Manchester conference to ballot on a rolling campaign of one-day strikes over pay and class sizes. Teachers have voted to ballot on a rolling campaign of one-day strikes over pay and class sizes.
The union is already balloting members on a walkout on 24 April. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) will ballot members on a series of possible walkouts in England and Wales.
Delegates have now voted for another ballot which will enable the executive to call strikes if a 10% pay rise is not agreed. The move came after delegates at the union's annual conference in Manchester condemned the prime minister's approach to limiting public sector workers' pay.
The conference heard many teachers were "one wage packet away" from financial crisis amid rising workloads. The union is already balloting its members on a one-day walkout over pay on 24 April.
Ian Murch, from the NUT's ruling executive, said: "If I were you Mr Brown I would be doing my sums again."
He added: "You wouldn't like us when we are angry - and we are getting a bit angry now."
Delegates have now endorsed a motion which will enable the executive to call further strikes if a 10% pay rise is not agreed.
Ministers have announced a 2.45% rise for teachers in England and Wales this year, rising to 2.3% in 2009 and 2010.Ministers have announced a 2.45% rise for teachers in England and Wales this year, rising to 2.3% in 2009 and 2010.
But the NUT claims this is a pay cut in real-terms because it is below the real rate of inflation.
'Boom and bust''Boom and bust'
But the NUT claims this is a pay cut in real-terms because it is below the real rate of inflation.
It wants the government to use the Retail Price Index for its calculations on public sector pay, rather than the Consumer Price Index which is lower.It wants the government to use the Retail Price Index for its calculations on public sector pay, rather than the Consumer Price Index which is lower.
A separate motion, submitted by the union's executive at the last minute, calls for a campaign to restore teachers' salaries against the cuts that it says have taken place in real terms since 2005.
Before we reach the bottom of the trough we are doing something about it Steve SinnottNUT general secretaryBefore we reach the bottom of the trough we are doing something about it Steve SinnottNUT general secretary
Speaking before the conference, NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said teachers had experienced "boom and bust" in their wage packets throughout the 1980s and 1990s.Speaking before the conference, NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said teachers had experienced "boom and bust" in their wage packets throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Whenever there had been an increase in teachers' pay, inflation always caught up with that rise, he said.Whenever there had been an increase in teachers' pay, inflation always caught up with that rise, he said.
"Before we reach the bottom of the trough we are doing something about it," he added."Before we reach the bottom of the trough we are doing something about it," he added.
Mr Sinnott also called on ministers to reconsider the 2.45% offer, urging them to prevent the "sapping of teachers' morale and the recruitment and retention crisis" that will come from real-terms cuts in teachers' pay.Mr Sinnott also called on ministers to reconsider the 2.45% offer, urging them to prevent the "sapping of teachers' morale and the recruitment and retention crisis" that will come from real-terms cuts in teachers' pay.
'Fair and responsible''Fair and responsible'
The motion also calls for the union to draw up a strategy to protect teachers' salaries, reduce their workload and set a limit on class sizes.The motion also calls for the union to draw up a strategy to protect teachers' salaries, reduce their workload and set a limit on class sizes.
It should also ease the financial burden and seek funding for state schools at the same level of those in the independent sector.It should also ease the financial burden and seek funding for state schools at the same level of those in the independent sector.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children said strike action would only disrupt children's learning.A spokeswoman for the Department for Children said strike action would only disrupt children's learning.
She said the pay offer was recommended by an independent body. She added that the rise for teachers was "both fair and responsible in the current economic climate".She said the pay offer was recommended by an independent body. She added that the rise for teachers was "both fair and responsible in the current economic climate".
"Everybody understands, including teachers, that we need to have a firm control of public sector pay.""Everybody understands, including teachers, that we need to have a firm control of public sector pay."