Commenting on the passing of Motion 38 at the Annual Conference of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“For some years now, independent-sector employers have failed to ensure that the salaries for their staff maintain pace with inflation.
“This failure has been brought into acute focus by the current cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is at a 40-year high. In the year to February 2023, the Retail Price Index rose to 13.8% and CPI rose 10.4%.
“Our members who work in the independent sector have seen their standard of living slowly eroded and now, some face real hardship. They are seeing a relentless attack on their pensions, and many have seen a reneging of their contractual rights through the unconscionable practice of ‘fire and rehire’.
“It is no wonder that the once unthinkable scenario of independent school strikes is fast becoming a regular occurrence.
“The NEU will continue to represent these members through a robust and sustained national pay campaign in the independent sector.”
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2023-074-NEU