School leaders’ union the NAHT say their pay dispute is not over - despite teachers being awarded a 2.75% rise.

A pay increase of 2.75% across all teaching pay scales and allowances was announced this week by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

It will be backdated to September 1.

But the National Association of Head Teachers said its dispute with the DESC continues as last year’s pay award was not awarded in full.

A spokesman for the NAHT’s local executive said: ’We are pleased that DESC has seen fit to implement the 2019-20 pay award of 2.75% as recommended by the School Teachers’ review Body (STRB).

’However, this does not alter the fact that the STRB’s recommended pay award for 2018-19 was not awarded in full and therefore the dispute continues. Industrial action has been suspended in order for negotiations to take place and we have to remain cautiously optimistic that a resolution can be found.’

Last week school leaders’ union the NAHT announced it had reached agreement to end its industrial action over pay.

The union argues school leaders have been ’forced’ to accept 10 years of below-inflation pay awards, amounting to real-terms pay cuts.

Its members include heads, deputy heads, assistant heads and teachers in every primary school in the island and one secondary school.

School heads argued that they should receive the same 3.5% rise awarded to other teacher grades. But the DESC said it was the UK Secretary of State that made the decision to make differential pay awards.

Union members began their unprecedented work to rule at the start of the term having voted overwhelmingly - by 95% - in a ballot to support industrial action. A total of 85% indicated they were prepared to go on strike.

The union called off its industrial action after agreeing a 10-point plan with the education department.

But while pay is the main focus, school heads says there are other issues too including increasing workload and bureaucracy and the feeling that they are not being consulted by the department.

The union lodged a complaint with the department about ’institutional bullying’.

Teachers’ pay in the Isle of Man is linked to the pay settlement for teachers in England.

This is set out each year by the UK Secretary of State for Education in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document, and is implemented in line with the Isle of Man pay policy for teachers.

Minister for Education Graham Cregeen MHK said this year’s pay increase would be funded from within existing budgets.

He said the above-inflation pay award would provide ’certainty and clarity’ for school leaders and teachers.