Further education lecturers have won a new pay agreement after being balloted to strike. This is a result of the University College Union (UCU) accepting a 5.5% pay increase for the 2024/25 academic year. In a similar fashion, National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has accepted the same offer. This move comes on the heels of a nearly identical 5.5% raise that teachers agreed to back in April.
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald, who announced the agreement, said she was pleased that a collaborative approach had delivered results. She noted that both unions collaborated to secure this increase, which aims to address some of the pressing concerns surrounding teacher pay.
Maxine Murphy-Higgins, a representative from NASUWT, called this agreement “key.” It provides educators with the time they need to address pay parity. She conveyed optimism that the new management team is committed to putting the necessary changes in place.
The UCU has criticized the new framework agreement. While they welcomed the pay boost, they believe it nonetheless “fell short” of delivering full pay parity with other education professionals. This gap serves as a reminder of the hard work that still lies ahead in the education sector.
A 5.5% increase has already been negotiated for the coming 2024/25 academic year. A 3% increase has been agreed for the year after that, 2025/26. Their implementation will be done in phases to provide some much-needed stability and predictability for educators in the years ahead.
“There will be steps to ensuring that parity is going to happen.” – Maxine Murphy-Higgins
While these pay increases are a welcome sign of appreciating educators, they are not enough. In addition to alleviating the financial burden, they help create a culture that values and fosters great teaching. As these negotiations proceed, advocates and workers are optimistic that even more progress on pay equity can be made soon.
