The teachers鈥 union NASUWT has launched a new dispute with the government – accusing Gillian Keegan of 鈥渟eeking to delay the pay review鈥 process. The row has erupted amid claims the education secretary has attempted to “frustrate the statutory scheme” by failing to send a remit letter to the School Teachers鈥 Review Body 鈥渋n a timely manner鈥. The document is sent to the STRB every year and asks it to make its recommendations for teachers’ pay and conditions the following May. Keegan , a month earlier than her predecessors Nadhim Zahawi and Sir Gavin Williamson in 2021 and 2020. But despite promising in July to 鈥渟treamline鈥 the STRB process in order to stop decisions on wages from being left until the end of summer, Keegan still has not sent 2024鈥檚 remit letter. Keegan accused of ‘interfering’ in pay process NASUWT said this 鈥減laces in jeopardy the ability of the pay review body process to be concluded in an appropriate timeframe鈥. In a statement released today, Dr Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary, added: “The education secretary is deliberately interfering in the pay review process by her failure to issue a remit to the STRB, in spite of the commitments she gave to unions in the summer to avoid the prospect of nationally coordinated strike action. 鈥淕illian Keegan is adding insult to injury by preventing the established pay review body process from taking place. It is regrettable but perhaps unsurprising that the secretary of state is seeking to delay the pay review body process after the Chancellor鈥檚 autumn statement confirmed the government鈥檚 intention to inflict further real terms pay cuts on hardworking teachers.” Roach said it was “plain for all to see the utter contempt” the government has for the teaching profession. NASUWT in separate dispute He also wrote to Keegan to tell her it is “in dispute with you over your failure to provide an appropriate remit to…enable the pay review body to examine and bring forward recommendations on matters regarding the pay and conditions of teachers鈥. The letter noted the “failure to issue a remit letter…in a timely manner is, in our view, an attempt to frustrate the statutory scheme”. It also stated the union 鈥渞emains in dispute鈥 with the education secretary 鈥渙ver the failure of the government to agree [to] the NASUWT’s demand for a fully funded restorative pay award for all teachers鈥 in state schools. Roach insisted he has 鈥渘o wish to see further escalation of industrial dispute鈥. Despite this, NASUWT reserves 鈥渢he right to do so in the event that you [Keegan] do not now respond to the matters raised鈥. The government has been repeatedly criticised for leaving decisions about pay to right at the end of the summer term each year, after schools have already drawn up their budgets. Government urged to ‘honour’ pay promise Gillian Keegan The education secretary told a webinar during the summer she understood 鈥渢he timing of the STRB process and the budgeting process is, let鈥檚 just say not ideal, as someone who鈥檚 done loads of budgets, I can understand and feel your pain鈥. 鈥淲e will also look to streamline that process so that you get the information early so that you鈥檙e not trying to anticipate what percentage you should put in for this or what percentage you should put in for that.鈥 Roach called on Keegan to honour her commitments and ensure the STRB 鈥渋s issued with an appropriate remit so that it can immediately consider the matters relating to teachers鈥 pay and conditions for 2024/25鈥. A DfE spokesperson stressed the department 鈥渄elivered on the manifesto commitment to give every new teacher a starting salary of at least 拢30,000 – alongside the highest pay award for teachers in over 30 years”. 鈥淲e are committed to the independent聽pay review body聽process and we will always carefully consider the operation of the pay round on any given year.鈥