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Schools in Enfield will close as angry teachers strike over what they see as their fourth pay cut since 2005, according to the biggest teaching union.

According to the Enfield General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Roger Gow, the majority of the 2,300 local NUT members are planning to join the national walk-out on Thursday, April 24, in protest at the Government's offer of a 2.45 per cent pay increase from this September, which they say is well below inflation.

When asked whether Enfield teachers would be participating in the nationwide walk-out, he said: "Oh yes, big time. It's a matter of deciding whether schools will close for half a day or a whole day."

advertisementTeachers were "pretty upset" about what he termed a pay "imposition" he said, adding: "This is just the beginning of a campaign in the public sector - other unions are preparing to protest. We want at least a deal that matches inflation."

Mr Gow said the deal was putting off prospective teachers and contributing to a decline in teaching standards.

He said: "We have difficulty getting teachers, especially in London, we are totally dependent on overseas trainee teachers to maintain the system. A signification proportion actually leave London within three years."

The union says the 2.45 per cent offer is well below inflation. It says the move follows what the union says are, in real terms, cuts in 2005, 2006, 2007 when below-inflation pay increases were offered.

But the Government says the pay review was agreed by an independent panel using the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation, which stands at 2.5 per cent. The NUT uses the Retail Price Index which stands at 4.1 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the department for children and schools said the majority of teachers do not want a dispute, and that striking teachers only represent around one in 10 of the overall teacher workforce.

She said: "A strike will only serve to disrupt children's learning, inconvenience parents and place a burden on fellow teachers."

Government figures show the average salary for all teachers has increased by 19 per cent between 1997 and 2005.

A 2007 report for the government on teacher status found that 20 per cent of respondents thought pay levels were a positive attraction into teaching, whereas 12 per cent thought they were a deterrent.

12:40pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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