National Education Union Picket supervisor vest
National Education Union Picket supervisor vest

“We’ll negotiate right up until the 11th hour”

The National Education Union in Wales say they’re continuing negotiations with the Welsh government, and they say they will stay at the table “until the 11th hour”. But their main gripe is questioning why health workers received an improved before they did.

Those healthcare staff received an offer of an additional 3%, of which 1.5% is consolidated and could be in pay packets year-on-year, on top of the Pay Review Body recommendations.

The NEU are striking next Tuesday for an above inflation pay increase according to the Retail Price Index, which is currently at 12%.

David Evans, Wales secretary for the NEU told CJS NEWS talks are set to continue tomorrow as they fight for a better deal for teachers.

“The negotiations are progressing satisfactorily at this moment in time. Of course, there hasn’t been a financial package that we could really put to our members at this stage. There are other issues with discussion as well, including workload on the reopening of the pay review body negotiations.”

In response a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We continue to meet with unions to work to resolve the current dispute. Discussions have been productive and we are due to meet again this week.”

In the senedd earlier the leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price accused the Welsh government in not acting like a socialist government by refusing to raise the higher and additional rates of taxes.

In response the Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths who’s continuing to sit in for the First Minister Mark Drakeford said they were a socialist government but were concerned people earning higher salaries would leave Wales to move to England.