For so long now, Performance Related Pay (PRP) has been a year-on-year worry for educators who have had to fill in endless forms, document piles of evidence and face excessive scrutiny in order to simply receive their due - moving up the pay-scale.
Although the national strike of 2023 by the NEU secured the Government's agreement to end PRP in schools, local union branches still needed to negotiate pay policies with their Local Authorities.
Thanks to Redbridge reps' united front and unprecedented, concerted agitation across the borough, PRP has been removed from the Local Authority's model pay policy for 2024/25. This is an incredible step forward in our pay and working conditions and is testament to what a pro-active and conscientious work force can achieve when we challenge practices that divide, demoralise and undermine our profession.
In order to maintain the success of our campaign, it is vital that reps inform the branch if their place of work has not adopted the model policy. The removal of PRP should now be adopted in all maintained schools in Redbridge. However, Academy trusts are under no obligation to adopt the Local Authority's policy, and where members' case is dismissed by management, we are committed to supporting school union groups to challenge this, with strike action remaining a last resort to secure improvements to these trusts' pay policy.
Well done to all of our reps and members in playing their vital role in overhauling this practice and improving pay and working conditions for all educators in Redbridge. PRP no longer has a place in our profession!