Ahead of the
NASUWTconference, which begins today, the union revealed that it secured more than £15.6m in compensation payments for its members in 2012.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the
NASUWT, said:
“It is clear from these cases that if employers operated good employment and health and safety practice, then teachers would not have had to face these traumatic events and there would not be costs of millions of pounds to taxpayers.
“These employers deliberately flout the law, but it’s the teachers and the taxpayers who pay the price.
"Behind every one of these cases is a person who has been damaged physically or mentally, either because of injury or unfair dismissal.
“The distress and pressure of the incident to the individual teacher and their family has often been compounded by years of legal action and court proceedings before any award is made.”
The 2012 figure represented an increase of 24% compared to the 2011 figure of just over £12.6m.
The compensation was awarded for successful claims for unlawful deduction of wages, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, constructive dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, age and trade union activity.
The largest employment-related assault claim was £268,787 for a member from the North East who intervened to help a colleague being attacked.
The 45 year old tried to restrain the pupil and was kicked repeatedly and also attacked from behind by another pupil.
“While compensation is important, it can never make up for the fact that many of these teachers suffer permanent physical and mental injury and often cannot continue in their chosen career,” Ms Keates said.
“Sadly, as a result of the coalition Government’s reckless and cavalier approach to the deregulation of health and safety provisions, employment and equality legislation, more of these cases will arise.”
This weekend’s
NASUWTconference will debate issues of concern to teachers, including inspection, special educational needs and qualified teacher status, together with pay, pensions and pupil behaviour.