NEW Labout is trying to force teachers to accept performance related pay, and the NUT Executive is colluding with this. Proposals include a new pay structure which will limit teachers to automatic increments for the first five years of teaching -currently teachers receive a pay rise each year for the first seven years of teaching.
Subsequent pay rises will depend on 'recognised competencies'. The Executive's proposals do not specify what these competencies are, who will judge them and how.
The suspicion must be that 'competencies' will be code for an enthusiasm to implement government directives and priorities, such as 'competence' in delivering the literacy hour - not competence in teaching pupils to think critically. It seems likely that recognition of these competencies will put more power into the hands of head teachers, who will increase their monitoring and supervision of teachers, rewarding favourites while withholding competency payments from militants and those who disagree with them.
The Executive's proposals -aimed at getting teachers to accept an end to the principle that pay is based on experience and extra responsibilities alone might at first appear attractive to many teachers who have seen their pay fall well below that of other similar non-manual workers.
The Executive's document proposes a 10% pay rise, and a pay level of £23,000 after four to five years teaching experience, with salary progression to £31,000 for teachers judged to have the necessary 'competencies'.
Pay limits
Of course a rise of 10% for all teachers would blow apart New Labour's public sector pay limits, and £31,000 for teachers with 'competencies' could only be achieved within Labour's spending limits for a tiny minority of teachers.
Nevertheless for newly qualified Teachers, particularly those working in primary schools where there are few opportunities to receive enhanced pay for extra responsibilities, £23,000 appears very attractive, and £31,000 an impossible dream.
The left must defeat the proposal to introduce pay for 'competencies', acquired 'professional development' or any other device not linked to experience of responsibilities at the Special Salaries Conference.
In addition we must fight for a campaign to win any pay increase at all. Year after year the NUT Executive has called on the government to implement pay increases, but done nothing to force them to do so.
The left has to defeat a pay structure which would increase divisions among teachers, increase managerial control and reward political subservience to New Labour's education policies.
It also has to win the Salaries Conference to a fight that can blow apart Labour's public sector spending freeze in the context of growing economic crisis.