Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference set to debate motion urging union to 'defend robustly' existing pay structures
The government is on a collision course with teachers over plans to introduce regional pay for public sector workers.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) warned that there could be more industrial action if proposals for regional rates lead to "an all-out free-for-all".
At its annual conference next week, the union is expected to debate a resolution raising concerns about the government's bid to reduce the role of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) – which deals with teachers' pay and conditions – and move to local pay.
The ATL says it should "defend robustly" existing national pay structures for the teaching profession.
The ATL general secretary, Dr Mary Bousted, said the union would be giving evidence to the STRB, which has been asked by ministers to look at how regional pay could be introduced.
Bousted said: "What we hope for is a banding system rather than an all-out free-for-all in each school.
"If banding is introduced then we would look at that, if that's a reasonable settlement. If it's school by school, a complete break-up, then yes, I do think that would be a focus of industrial action by the union."
Any action would be subject to agreement by the executive and a ballot of members, Bousted said.
She also warned that the government's approach to teachers has been "calamitous", adding: "They're saying: 'We don't care about workload, we don't care about mental health.'
"This government shows remarkable disregard for the health of the education system and for the physical and mental wellbeing of teachers."