Teachers' union backs regional pay battle

One of the biggest teaching unions has voted to join other unions to challenge any government attempts to introduce regional pay for UK public sector workers.

At its annual conference in Torquay, the National Union of Teachers voted to ballot for strike action if any firm plans are brought in.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has asked the body which advises the government on teachers' pay to look at the issue.

Officials say any changes are distant.

Chancellor George Osborne raised the issue before the Budget, prompting widescale criticism from public sector unions.

Teachers, like many other public sector workers in the UK, have nationally agreed rates of pay.

The chancellor suggested public sector workers could be paid a rate which was in line with local levels and this might stimulate the private sector.

In Torquay, NUT delegates agreed its leaders should submit a resolution or amendment to the TUC's conference this autumn to develop "maximum unity against any measures to introduce local pay and attacks on pensions".

NUT deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney said the union believed that teaching was a national profession and should have national pay rates.

"Pay rates in different parts of the country would be very bad for the economy," he said.

"This is about our preparation for a campaign if the government does go down this route."

Officials at the Department for Education say the chancellor has asked all government departments with large public sector workforces to look at the possibility of introducing regional pay rates.

Talk of industrial action would be premature, they said.

A spokesman told the BBC the examination of this issue was "a big piece of work" and that any decisions were "a long way off".

"The aim would be to to make sure that we would be able to retain and attract teachers," he said.

"It would have to be competitive."