The has become the third union to formally reject the government鈥檚 pay offer. Its leader warned any failure by ministers to return to the table to solve the dispute would 鈥渟tick two fingers up to a dedicated profession鈥�. The union announced this morning that 90 per cent of voting members had rejected the offer of a 拢1,000 one-off payment this year and 4.3 per cent pay rise for most teachers and leaders next year, on a turnout of 64 per cent. The government must now come back to the table and solve this dispute. To do otherwise would be to stick two fingers up to a dedicated profession In an online consultative ballot, 78 per cent said they would be prepared to vote for and take industrial action, up to and including strike action, if the offer was rejected. It comes after both the National Education Union and Association of School and College Leaders voted to reject the offer. The NEU has already timetabled two more days of strike action. Of NAHT members who responded to the ballot, 92 per cent said the offer was unaffordable, with not enough headroom in their budgets to fund the rise next year. The government has said it believes a 4 per cent rise is affordable next year, and has pledged to fund the remainder of the proposed offer in 2023-24, as well as the 拢1,000 payment this year. Return to table or ‘stick two fingers up’ to profession Paul Whiteman, the union鈥檚 general secretary, heralded the 鈥渃onclusive response to the government鈥檚 offer. It has been judged inadequate and unaffordable鈥�. 鈥淥ur members do not recognise the government鈥檚 calculations on the affordability of the offer, with the vast majority of head teachers and school business leaders saying they could not pay the rise from their existing budgets. 鈥淭his is a very clear stumbling block and one the government must listen to and solve if we hope to bring this dispute to an end.鈥� Whiteman warned last week that if the offer was rejected, it was 鈥渃lear that industrial action by NAHT members will be necessary鈥�. The union鈥檚 executive will now meet to discuss next steps 鈥渋ncluding a formal ballot on industrial action.鈥� 鈥淭he government must now come back to the table and solve this dispute. To do otherwise would be to stick two fingers up to a dedicated profession whilst at the same time turning their backs on children. 鈥淭he response from the members of all the education unions has been overwhelming 鈥� the government can be in no doubt of the strength of feeling of the education profession or their determination to stand up for themselves and for their pupils. 鈥淲e are calling on the government to match that ambition and invest seriously in the future of education in this country.鈥� A DfE spokesperson said the decision by unions to reject the offer “will simply result in more disruption for children and less money for teachers today”.