12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0%

July 06

Oct 06

Jan  07

April 07

July 07

Oct  07

Jan  08

April 08

July  08

The government continues to tell porkies about the real cost of living. According to their Consumer Price Index (CPI), inflation is now over 4%, which in itself is way above the 2.45% they have so far offered teachers. But CPI doesn’t include housing costs and distorts the real cost of living. For example, flat screen TVs, a rare purchase for most people, are falling in price and therefore artificially lowering the inflation rate. Meanwhile, the cost of goods we use every day are going through the roof as can seen graphically above. Add to these daily essentials the cost of fuel and you get an inflation rate nearer 10% than 4%.

The choice for us as teachers and public sector workers is whether to accept this scenario as the inevitable consequence of the economic down turn, or do something about it.

We are told that we must all tighten our belts to weather the difficult

economic climate but there is little sign any of this applies to the rich and big business. Whilst millions face so-called fuel poverty, the utilities have seen their profits go through the roof. Gas and electricity customers face price rises of over 25% whilst share-holders in Eon have seen a 25% rise in their dividend payments. It seems incredible that, whilst denying teachers and other public sector workers an inflation proof pay increase, the Government is refusing to impose even a marginal windfall tax on the utility companies.

In schools teachers and other staff continue to deliver to the Government’s target driven agenda but Brown and co refuse to reward our efforts. SATs, GCSE and A level results continue to improve and are used to exhort us to even greater efforts in the years to come. We should face the fact that this government is taking us for granting, expecting more but giving little in return. And they aim to make us suffer in this way for the next 3 years. Just as the British Economy enters recession we will be entering our second year of just over 2% pay awards. It’s not good enough, we are worth a lot more and the NUT, alongside the other unions if possible, will be considering further industrial action on pay in the near future. Expect a ballot time-table from early October.