I have been told I will be sacked unless I agree to a college pay deal that falls well short of the national agreement. I am devastated. How can I feel motivated under such circumstances? My performanceas a teacher has slumped as a result, and I find myself caught up with a group of colleagues I have sworn to stick with. I cannot lose my job, though, and I don’t want to let them down. I feel disillusioned and trapped.
Many FE staff face similar problems. I wonder about the efficacy of a national agreement that is not binding, and seems to be a paper exercise that just gets people’s hopes up. Perhaps this particular exercise should have included adequate government funding in its formula. Principals will rightly say they can’t give you money that isn’t there. It is not always wise to join a pact. I’d be honest and say you want out.
Dilemmas should be emailed to Donald Short at ds@moylescourt.hants.sch.uk
