Unions react as Welsh Government confirms teachers’ pay rise below recommended 4.25%
Teaching unions have accused the Welsh Government of disregarding independent pay recommendations with strikes potentially looming in Flintshire and Wrexham.
Following last week’s announcement that council workers – including school staff – across Flintshire and Wrexham would be balloting for strike action over a 3.5% pay offer for 2026/27, Welsh Government has doubled-down on its position, saying it fears a larger pay award of 4.25% for education professionals recommended by its own independent pay review body would be unaffordable.
Wrexham has already faced teachers’ strikes this term over Darland High School’s significant financial deficit. Now autumn could bring more disruption with schools and other council services hit by industrial action if members vote in favour of a strike.
Anna Brychan MS, Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, said in a statement today (Monday) that she will be consulting on a 3.5% increase from September.
“When schools return in September, I will consult on a 3.5% pay award for teachers and school leaders,” she said. “In light of concerns raised by partners outside the pay review process, I will also consult on a 5% increase for unqualified teachers.
“I will provide additional funding to local authorities and schools for this pay award. I will also provide additional funding to Medr to maintain pay parity for post-16 practitioners in schools and colleges.
“I am also publishing the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s (IWPRB) report. I have carefully considered the IWPRB recommendation that all salaries and allowances be increased by 4.25% from September 2026. I have also received representations that any pay award should be fully funded.
“The IWPRB recommendation is not affordable within existing budgets. In coming to my decision, I have had to balance the available budget and recognising and rewarding our workforce.”
Unions have reacted with anger at the announcement.
The National Education Union Cymru – which represents many teachers across Wrexham and Flintshire, welcomed the additional money but said it did not go far enough.
“At first glance, the award this year might seem positive compared to England,” it said in a statement. The reality is this announcement falls way short of the mark.
“For the second year running, the Welsh Government has chosen to ignore the recommendation of the Independent Pay Review Body.
“We expected the Plaid Cymru Government to use its devolved powers and announce a fully funded pay award. Partial funding and no ring-fencing of those funds simply means that some schools will struggle to balance the books.
“We have warned the Welsh Government consistently for several years that unless significantly increased and sustained funding is allocated to schools, many would reach a crisis point.
“We wanted to welcome this award for teachers but sadly we know that this pay rise will come at the expense of other jobs and much-needed resources in schools.
“At a time when our members are struggling with unsustainable levels of workload in an attempt to support a rise in the complex needs of learners they teach, we back calls for an increase in the allocated funds for Additional Learning Needs and will continue to stand with other education trade unions to fight to achieve this.”
In England the pay offer of 3.5% has not been fully funded – with schools expected to fund 1% of their own increased through efficiencies and cost-cutting.
The National Association of Headteachers Cymru also criticised the move.
“The Welsh Government’s decision to depart from the recommendation of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body is deeply disappointing and fundamentally wrong-headed,” said NAHT Assistant General Secretary Rob Kelsall.
“The review body was established to provide independent, expert advice based on the evidence presented to it. If ministers are prepared to disregard that advice when it becomes inconvenient, then it is entirely reasonable to ask what the purpose of the process is.
“You cannot claim to value independent scrutiny while ignoring the conclusions of the independent body you established to provide it. Doing so undermines confidence in the integrity of the system and risks reducing the entire process to little more than a political exercise.
“School leaders and teachers have every right to expect that the evidence they submit will be considered seriously and that the recommendations reached independently will carry genuine weight.
“If the Welsh Government believes the independent review body has got it wrong, it should explain why. Simply setting aside its recommendation damages trust and raises serious questions about the credibility of future pay reviews.
“At a time when schools are facing significant recruitment and retention difficulties, this is precisely the wrong signal to send to the profession.”
The Trades Union Congress Cymru, which represents 47 unions, also expressed dismay at the announcement by Welsh Government.
General Secretary Laura Doel said: “We share the concerns of education unions that the Welsh Government has chosen to disregard the independent recommendation on teachers’ and leaders’ pay in Wales, citing affordability concerns ahead of the supplementary budget.
“The IWPRB recommendation is based on evidence from unions, employers and the previous Welsh Government reflecting the complexity, responsibility and value of these roles as well as the need to recruit and retain the best professionals in our schools.
“If affordability is driving this decision, then the Welsh Government cannot ignore the wider funding crisis facing schools. Chronic underfunding is already placing significant pressure on budgets, particularly through the failure to adequately fund ALN provision.
“At a time when schools are struggling to recruit and retain staff, asking educators to do more with less while rejecting independent pay recommendations sends the wrong message.
“Underfunding schools will not solve the recruitment and retention challenges facing the profession. If the Welsh Government is serious about attracting and keeping the skilled staff our children need, it must invest properly in both school budgets and the workforce. The time to act is now.”
Last week Unison announced that, due to the expected 3.5% pay award for teachers and council workers, it would be balloting members until August 6 on strike action across Flintshire and Wrexham.
If members vote in favour, strike action could take place across both authorities this autumn.
By Alec Doyle – Local Democracy Reporter
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