The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Teachers at a Spalding secondary school could go on strike next month.
The staff at Spalding Grammar School have indicated their desire for industrial action because they have been denied a nationally-recommended one per cent pay rise.
It is believed the school is the only one in the county to withhold the pay rise and the National Union of Teachers has requested a meeting with the Grammar’s management team to explain the decision.
NUT division secretary for Lincolnshire Ken Rustidge said there is a “sense of bewilderment” among staff at why they have been treated so unfairly despite delivering an excellent education for their pupils.
The union conducted a indicative ballot for strike action which resulted in 93 per cent of members voting for action on a 100 per cent turnout.
A full ballot is now being carried out which it is anticipated will lead to action over a number of days in February if the school remains unprepared to have meaningful discussions and award the pay rise recommended by the School Teachers’ Pay and Review Body, an independent body reporting to the Government.
Mr Rustidge said: “I hope that this dispute can be resolved through negotiation.
“I am surprised that such hard working teachers in such a highly regarded school have not been given the Government’s recommended pay increase, which itself is very small.
“I have spoken to teachers, head teachers and school leaders across Lincolnshire who had stated that they have implemented the pay award in order to attract the best teachers into our schools.”
