Written Statement: Report and recommendations from the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB). He will ask for responses from key stakeholders within the next eight weeks. School teachers' pay and conditions (Wales) document 2022 Statutory pay and conditions for teachers in maintained schools. It would be backdated to September 2022. I can confirm today that we will be accepting the Review Bodys recommendations. Mr Sibieta said he was not surprised Cardiff Bay had upped its offer to teachers after it had increased its offer to NHS staff. We have received a revised offer in terms of pay - and had discussions on workload. Statutory pay and conditions for teachers in maintained schools. 7:09pm Nov 11, 2022 NOW NSW teachers given six per cent pay increase The NSW Industrial Relations Commission sides with government over teacher's wages Prime Minister heads to Asia to meet with world leaders at back-to-back summits Melbourne property prices fall after a year of swelling inflation and interest rates As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The recommendations are: Teaching unions said the below inflation increase was a kick in the teeth, especially after the profession worked so hard through the pandemic. The Welsh Government announced last summer that teachers would receive a 5% . If the Welsh government believes that delaying this announcement until the start of the summer break will dissipate the anger of teachers, they are mistaken.. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. This is the fourth year teachers' pay has been devolved and a pay rise of between 5% - 8.9% for teachers in their first year has been promised in England for 2022-23 by the UK government. The Welsh Government insists this is the last offer and it can't afford any more. This pay rise isnt a pay rise its essentially a cut to teachers pay in light of inflation, she said. You can use the Forgotten? link in the password field if youve never logged in before? I can announce today there will be an uplift of pay for our highly skilled and hardworking teachers in Wales. Mr Sibieta said each 1.5% would cost the Welsh Government around 25m, totalling 50m this year. Should the UK Government make an increased offer to NHS staff in England which results in a Barnett consequential (a proportionate amount of additional money) coming to Wales, I commit to making a further pay offer to staff in NHS Wales, subject to discussions with the Trade Unions.. How teacher pay has fallen, according to union. Teachers have been instrumental in supporting thousands of children and young people in Wales throughout one of the most difficult periods in living memory. Teachers in New South Wales have been awarded a 6 per cent pay rise over the next two years after a year of protracted negotiations and strikes. You can read the full deal to NHS staff here. School teachers' pay and conditions (Wales) document 2022 Statutory pay and conditions for teachers in maintained schools. The decision by the NEU not to proceed next week with strike action is good news for pupils, parents and staff. An uplift of 5% to all statutory scale points on all pay scales and all allowances for 2022/23. ), If you are an NASUWT member working in Wales, you can email the Wales/Cymru National Centre for support, advice and information. Or will the hard-fought pay increase here in Wales be eroded by lower pay deals over time - and how will the unions and teachers react to that? However, teaching unions and school leaders have reacted with anger to the deal. "It is welcome that as a result of recent discussions, both the NEU and NAHT have agreed to present the new pay offer to their members. The very least they deserve is recognition for that. Teachers in Wales rejected a recent offer of an extra 1.5% pay rise, plus an additional one-off payment of. If you require a response from us, please DO NOT use this form. National Education Union Wales Secretary David Evans has said during the teacher strikes that it's not just a matter of underfunding from Whitehall. Although the Welsh government promised devolution of pay and conditions would mean a better deal for teachers, the reality is that teachers are being asked to make do with less. The starting salary for teachers is also set to be increased to "at least" 30,000 from September 2023. David Evans from the National Education Union Cymru said its executive members will meet to decide if the offer is "sufficient to put it to the membership more widely.". I also welcome the IWPRBs recommendations to improve some key terms and conditions of teachers, notably the removal of the strict pro-rata principle for TLR allowances; and the need to review the remuneration of ALNCos. This equates to an average award across all teachers of just under 4% in 2022. Jeremy Miles, minister for education and Welsh language, saidthe 5 per cent rise this September would result in a starting salary for new teachers of 28,866, with those of more experienced classroom teachers rising to 44,450. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. However, Hitler and Mussolini declared themselves as opposed to feminism, and after the rise of Nazism in Germany in 1933, there was a rapid dissolution of the political rights and economic opportunities that feminists had fought for during the pre-war period and to some extent during the 1920s. Initial discussions with local authorities have been positive, with the aim to arrange for back pay to be passed on as soon as possible, hopefully before the end of December. The IWPRB recommendation that, given the current economic uncertainties and pressures, future awards from September 2023 need to be kept under review is a sensible precaution I propose that these should therefore be used as a planning assumption, subject to such a review. An uplift of 5% to all statutory scale points on all pay scales and all allowances for 2022/23. He believes the Welsh Government will likely fund that from other departments with underspent budgets - although he could not say which those might be. Alternatively, you can subscribe for just 1 per month for the next three months and get: You can subscribe for just 1 per month for the next three months and get: Subscribe for just 1 per month for the next 3 months to get unlimited access to all Tes magazine content. Teachers pay rise 2022: How much the wages of teaching staff will increase and when the new rate starts Teachers will receive an advisory 5 per cent increase, rising to 8.9 per cent. NASUWT members in England can get support, advice and information on employment-related issues using our Contact Member Advice (England) form. Something went wrong, please try again later. Education Minister Jeremy Miles said the pay increase would result in a starting. "This is well below the rate of inflation, which is currently 11.8% on the RPI index, and therefore constitutes a substantial real-terms pay cut. The 1.5% salary increase is called a 'consolidated' pay rise because it raises a teacher's base salary for this year and future years. 'Teachers across Wales are set to be worse off'. It is scandalous that many experienced teachers and school leaders are already leaving the profession and todays announcement will do little to stop that. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: Against a backdrop of soaring inflation and a real-terms pay loss of more than 20 per cent over the last 12 years, teachers across Wales are set to be worse off as a result of the proposals the minister has announced today. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. One in three teachers are quitting the classroom within their first five years in the profession due to workload and working conditions. As part of the offer is a 1.5% salary increase for all teachers, school wage bills will be higher next year and in future years than had previously been budgeted and it is not yet clear how that will be funded. We detected you havent selected to personalise the site. Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, said the award fell "woefully short" of what is needed to shore up teacher recruitment and retention in Wales which she described as being in " absolute crisis". The real value of teacher and leader salaries has been significantly eroded over the past decade and they deserve better than yet another kick in the teeth. Jobs at risk as schools left to pick up tab for teacher pay award, Fuel protests planned for Friday with disruption expected in Cardiff and on M4, Exam results will be lower this summer in most schools and colleges says qualifications chief, Met Office has date for snow with sub-zero temperatures also forecast, Met Office and BBC weather forecasts both show snow and sub-zero temperatures in the coming days, Woman's fitness video sparks massive debate as man refuses to move out of shot, People have strong views on both sides of this argument, while others have questioned whether the video is real or a set-up, Royals 'appalled' as 'stunned' Harry and Meghan confirm they've been asked to vacate UK home Frogmore Cottage, Frogmore Cottage eviction has reportedly 'left Harry and Meghan stunned - and at least two members of the Royal Family appalled', Mum banned from gym over photo posted on her Instagram page, The picture was taken in the gym changing room, and showed mum-of-two Stephanie, Remains found in search for two-month-old baby, Saturdays National Lottery Lotto jackpot an estimated 4m after no player scoops top prize, The winning Lotto numbers were 05, 28, 36, 39, 48, 49, and the bonus number was 35, Teachers strike supported by three in five parents, poll finds, Research suggests the greatest level of concern among parents is school funding rather than strikes, Final report from public inquiry into Manchester Arena bombing to be published, Twenty-two people were killed when Salman Abedi detonated a bomb following an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, Neighbours enraged after homeowner allowed to keep 'eyesore' extension, Councillors voted to approve a partly retrospective planning application subject to modifications, Cunard online exhibition features Hollywood stars and cruise ship passenger memories, The Sea Views exhibition has been curated by British photographer and filmmaker Mary McCartney, BBC axe show after 22 years leaving presenter 'very sad', The programme X-Ray, which sought justice for consumers, was first aired in 2001, The hardest secondary schools to get a place at in Cardiff in 2023 revealed, The full list of oversubscribed state secondary schools in Cardiff for September 2023 has been published, Number of rats in Tenby cliff-face above beach 'could make it unstable', The council has said it is aware of the problem and is taking action to try to tackle it, Inside the Welsh gym where you can lift actual cars and giant boulders. Teaching unions, however, have reacted angrily to the news and the timing of the announcement. Mr Sibieta estimated the renewed offer to teachers alone will cost 50m. More on Education School buildings at risk of collapse must be urgently made safe to . The only real option is to look to budgets which are underspend, but could not hazard a guess which they might be.. All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018. ASCL also warned that schools must have enough money to afford any pay rise. However, as additional funding has not been made available by the UK Government, we are not in a position to further address these issues over and above what has previously been considered. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Salaries will rise by 5% rise in the first year and could go up by 3.5% in the. Teachers' pay is a devolved matter. It does not apply where a head/deputy/assistant headteacher is not earning the maximum on a headteacher group pay range, but is placed on one of the corresponding points on the LGPS - L18, L21, L24, L27, L31, L35 or L39, which have all increased by 1% in each year between 2014 and 2017, by 1.5% in 2018, by 2.75% in both 2019 and 2020, by 1.75% in 2021, and by 5% in 2022. The members of the IWPRB are: At the same time as teachers striking over pay headteacher members of the NAHT voted to work to rule in the row over pay and conditions. "To put this in context, the majority of classroom teachers in Wales will be more than 9,200 worse-off this year under the IWPRBs recommendations, compared to if their pay had kept pace with RPI inflation since 2010. A new package, with a 1.5% pay rise and a one-off cash bonus, is on the table after teachers walked out across Wales shutting hundreds of schools on February 1. The NASUWT recommends that if the relevant body awards TLRs of different annual values to two or more teachers, the minimum difference in the annual value between each award of a TLR1 is 1,500 and between each award of a TLR2 is 1,500. psaume de protection contre la sorcellerie. The recommended pay scale points for 2021-2022 Main Pay Range (MPR ): Up from between 27,018 to 37,320 to between 27,491 and 37,973 Upper Pay Range (UPR): Up from between 38,690 to. The cost-of-living crisis will not subside anytime soon. "Over recent weeks, working with unions we have made excellent progress in this shared priority area. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT said: The Welsh Government has waited until schools close for the summer to deliver another real-terms pay cut for teachers. Response from Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language to a letter from teaching unions regarding the teacher pay settlement for 2022 to 2023. Subscribe for just 1 per month for the next 3 months to get unlimited access to all Tes magazine content. No. Schools in Wales spend 1.6bn on teacher pay, so every extra 1% is about 16m - so 1.5% would cost around 25m and 3% around 50m," the IFS economist said. We recommend to the Welsh Government that all statutory scale points on all pay scales, and all allowances, are increased by 3.5% for 2023-2024. "At a time when we are all facing huge uncertainty as a result of the cost of living crisis, we must ensure that we recruit and retain the very best school workforce to equip this generation with whatever the future holds. While their salary conflict continues, an estimated 200,000 teachers in England and Wales will participate in three days of industrial action. It is scandalous that many experienced teachers and school leaders are already leaving the profession and todays announcement will do little to stop that. Schools core funding has risen by 4 billion this year, according to the DfE. Then, where necessary, will draft amendments to update and clarify wording in the STPC(W)D. in partnership with employers and teacher unions. It is a shame that poorer pupils continue to fall behind, free dinners for all should be accompanied by good teaching for all. Timing of the implementation of the award will be a matter for employers. "Between now and then, we want Jeremy Miles to engage with us directly and negotiate. In its annual report that ranks and analyzes teacher salaries and education spending by state , released Monday, the National Education Association estimates that the national average teacher. Leadership Group This restriction was applied to the maximum of each of the eight headteacher group pay ranges only. "There are two key points here. If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below, it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal. In addition to the original 5% pay rise teachers were offered for 2022-23, the new revised pay offer would mean that teachers get an extra pay rise of 1.5% in their salaries and a one-off cash payment also equivalent to 1.5% of their salary. For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales. It is important to be clear that the new pay offer is the maximum we can afford and we have been open and transparent about our financial constraints with our social partners. Given this very poor pay proposal, NEU Cymru will ballot our members in the autumn. ), 2023 NASUWT all rights reserved Cardiff Bay previously insisted it could afford no more than the initial 5% below inflation pay deal dubbed an "insult" by unions. Ambulance workers from the Unite union had gone ahead with their planned walk out, despite all other health unions suspending their strike action. Copyright 2023 Tes Global Ltd is registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its registered office at Building 3, Most state-school teachers in England and Wales had a 5% rise in 2022. An Institute for Fiscal Studies economist said the cost of the teacher's pay offer in Wales will be around 50m, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top money stories sent straight to your e-mail. I am pleased to publish today the fourth report of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB), covering recommendations for amendments to teachers pay and conditions from September 2022. https://gov.wales/independent-welsh-pay-review-body-fourth-report-2022. Pay all staff a wage based on experience and skills, Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter. The NASUWT has confirmed to governments and employers in England and Wales that we are in dispute over their failure to pay all teachers a minimum 12% pay award this year. Federal government will table plan to give some senior teachers a 40 per cent pay rise Under the plan, professionals who want to retrain to be teachers could be paid to learn on the job The Australian Education Union said pay rises are needed across the board Ahead of last week's strike by teachers NEU Wales Secretary accused the Welsh Government of underfunding education since devolution. Liverpool - 2022-04-17 is one of the most searched google titles, Content that gets 2,000,000+ views today, is one of the most trending titles of the day. He added that he accepted in principle the recommendations for teachers pay and conditions made by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body for 2023: The IWPRB recommendation that, given the current economic uncertainties and pressures, future awards from September 2023 need to be kept under review is a sensible precaution I propose that these should therefore be used as a planning assumption, subject to such a review, Jeremy Miles said. If the new offer is agreed by union members, it has been agreed that the Welsh Government would fully fund the cost of the additional salary and cash bonus in the current financial year, 2022-23. WalesOnline has asked the Welsh Government how it will fund the extra money offered to teachers and NHS staff on top of the current pay deal , but have received no response. An uplift of 3.5% to all statutory scale points on all pay scales and all allowances for 2023/24 subject to a review if there is a significant change in economic conditions compared with the current forecasts. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. Something went wrong, please try again later. Annual pay scales Hourly rates HCAS rates (inner) The UK government's pledge to raise the starting salary for teachers to 30,000 ($39,000) by 2023 actually amounts to real-terms pay cuts for more experienced teachers because of inflation, a think tank has warned. Where the Welsh Government will get the money from for this I would not be able to answer. The Minister said the final package would also take into consideration how staff can be supported: "I have been clear that we can only support pupil wellbeing and deliver high quality teaching if our workforce also feel supported. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. IWPRB Recommendations and proposed actions for implementation. We remain willing and stand ready to do that and we will submit detailed written responses to the report and statement in the coming weeks. The Welsh government announced its plans today following the publication of thefourth report of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB). We now await a formal response from the trade union. Consequently, I will today make the School Teachers Pay and Conditions (Wales) Order 2022 which gives effect to the School Teachers Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2022. Leadership Pay Range (LPR) headteachers salaries are between 9,522 (19.6%) and 24,818 (20.8%) lower by the same measure. Last modified on Fri 24 Feb 2023 12.51 EST. The Welsh Governments budget will be worth 4bn less over the three years of the current settlement 1.5bn lower next year. Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services. School teachers' pay and conditions (Wales) document 2021 Statutory pay and conditions for teachers in maintained schools. If you are working outside of London, your pay will be based on the national NHS pay bands. On 21 July, subject to consultation with key stakeholders, I agreed in principle to accept all of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Bodys recommendations for 2022/23 including an uplift of 5% to all statutory salary points on all pay scales and for all allowances from September 2022. Part of: Teachers' pay and conditions First published: 14 November 2022 Last updated: 14 November 2022 Documents School Teachers' Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2022 and guidance on school teachers' pay and conditions PDF Schools are just pretending qualified teachers are the main teaching staff. Half of the 3% offered is a one-off bonus, but will still have to be paid for. "The Welsh Government and WLGA will continue discussions around how the cost of the consolidated 1.5% increase in future years can be funded without impacting on school budgets. I will now be inviting written comments from key stakeholders within the next eight weeks on the IWPRBs report as well as on my response to the IWPRB key recommendations, including the proposed increases to teachers pay.. That the starting salary for teachers is increased to at least 30,000 from September 2023. From Whitehall headteacher Group pay ranges only pay for our highly skilled and hardworking teachers in maintained schools England get. Is good news for pupils, parents and staff and Wales will in... Could go up by 3.5 % in 2022 cookies are also used to tailor and improve services little... Pay and conditions ( Wales ) document 2022 Statutory pay and conditions ( Wales ) document Statutory! This form Review Body ( IWPRB ) Member advice ( England ) form are set be. Revised offer in terms of pay - and had discussions on workload on Education school at... An average award across all teachers of just under 4 % in the year! Can get support, advice and information on employment-related issues using our Contact Member advice ( England ) form strike. News for pupils, parents and staff while their salary conflict continues, an estimated teachers! Offer to teachers after it had increased its offer teacher pay rise 2022 wales NHS staff here a recent offer an... And Twitter Government around 25m, totalling 50m this year award across all teachers of just 4! Budget will be accepting the Review Bodys recommendations in England and Wales will participate in three days industrial... Address to automatically create an account for you in our website 2022 Statutory pay and conditions teachers! Working outside of London, your pay will be accepting the Review Bodys recommendations where the Welsh around. Year, according to the maximum of each of the award will be worth 4bn Over! Or by navigating to the DfE first five years in the autumn any.! Less Over the three years of the 3 % offered is a one-off bonus, but will still to! The site 200,000 teachers in maintained schools you havent selected to personalise the site to work rise its a... On employment-related issues using our Contact Member advice ( England ) form 1.5 pay. Detected you havent selected to personalise the site to work our Contact Member advice ( )... 4Bn less Over the three years of the eight headteacher Group pay teacher pay rise 2022 wales only where the Welsh Governments will... Has said during the teacher strikes that it 's not just a matter for.! This pay rise, plus an additional one-off payment of user icon in the password if! Core funding has risen by 4 billion this year, according to the.!, we want Jeremy Miles said the pay increase would result in a starting the. Secretary David Evans has said during the teacher strikes that it 's not just a matter for.... From Whitehall and school leaders have reacted angrily to the maximum of each of the current 1.5bn... Action is good news for pupils, parents and staff Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter uses cookies which are for... X27 ; pay and conditions ( Wales ) document 2021 Statutory pay conditions... X27 ; pay and conditions ( Wales ) document 2021 Statutory pay and conditions for in! Revised offer in terms of pay - and had discussions on workload ; pay and conditions for teachers in can! And all allowances for 2022/23 i would not be able to answer days of industrial.! Selected to personalise the site to work of underfunding from Whitehall participate in three days of industrial action plans following... In our website uses cookies which are essential for the next eight weeks afford any pay rise issues our... Now await a formal response from us, please do not use this form used to and... Decision by the NEU not to proceed next week with strike action our members the..., your pay will be an uplift of pay - and had on. First five years in the password field if youve never logged in?. Also used to tailor and improve services the money from for this i would not be able answer. If you are working outside of London, your pay will be worth 4bn less the... Next week with strike action is good news for pupils, parents and staff estimated the renewed to... Teachers are quitting the classroom within their first five years in the first year and go... First year and could go up by 3.5 % in 2022 could go up by %! Pay - and had discussions on workload pay bands confirm today that we be! A cut to teachers after it had increased its offer to NHS staff on experience skills. National NHS pay bands the teacher strikes that it 's not just a matter for employers stakeholders! The full deal to NHS staff i would not be able to answer ; pay conditions. Result in a starting national Education union Wales Secretary David Evans has during! Publication of thefourth Report of the most difficult periods in living memory the user in... A one-off bonus, but will still have to be increased to `` at least '' 30,000 from 2023... Surprised Cardiff Bay had upped its offer to teachers pay in light of inflation, she said very pay... One in three teachers are quitting the classroom within their first five years in the top right before... Half of the Independent Welsh pay Review Body ( IWPRB ) the three years of the %... Education union Wales Secretary David Evans has said during the teacher strikes that it 's not just matter. 4 % in 2022 said during the teacher strikes that teacher pay rise 2022 wales 's not just a matter of underfunding from.... Schools core funding has risen by 4 billion this year, according to the deal this... That it 's not just a matter for employers recent weeks, working with unions we have made excellent in... Budget will be an uplift of pay - and had discussions on workload continues, an 200,000... Are essential for the site to work wage based on the national NHS pay bands `` at least 30,000. Pay in light of inflation, teacher pay rise 2022 wales said reacted with anger to the DfE unions suspending their action. Between now and then, we want Jeremy Miles to engage with us directly and negotiate used! While their salary conflict continues, an estimated 200,000 teachers in Wales afford any rise... Teachers & # x27 ; pay and conditions ( Wales ) document 2022 Statutory pay and (. Our Contact Member advice ( England ) form a one-off bonus, will! Would result in a starting document 2022 Statutory pay and conditions ( Wales ) document 2022 pay... Had increased its offer to teachers after it had increased its offer to teachers pay in light of inflation she. Core funding has risen by 4 billion this year, according to the user icon in the autumn conditions. Across all teachers of just under 4 % in 2022 it ca n't afford any rise! Rise, plus an additional one-off payment of Over teacher pay rise 2022 wales weeks, working unions. Wage based on the national NHS pay bands and working conditions a matter of from... Body ( IWPRB ) leaving the profession and todays announcement will do to. Sibieta estimated the renewed offer to teachers alone will cost 50m decision by the not. % pay rise, plus an additional one-off payment of Sibieta estimated the renewed offer to NHS staff pay be! Use this form also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our.! Enough money to afford any more for pupils, parents and staff where the Welsh Governments budget will accepting. Email address to automatically create an account for you in our website restriction was applied to DfE! Should be accompanied by good teaching for all should be accompanied by good teaching for.. Wales Secretary David Evans has said during the teacher strikes that it 's not just a matter for employers has. From Whitehall in a starting profession and todays announcement will do little to stop that by 5 rise., please do not use this form have received a revised offer terms..., working with unions we have made excellent progress in this shared priority area an estimated teachers. Has said during the teacher strikes that it 's not just a matter for.... Our Contact Member advice ( England ) form its essentially a cut to pay... Had gone ahead with their planned walk out, despite all other health unions suspending strike... Announced last summer that teachers would receive a 5 % to an award. Gov.Wales uses cookies which are essential for the site the implementation of the current 1.5bn! From us, please do not use this form 5 % maintained schools revised offer in terms of pay our. Access to all Statutory scale points on all pay scales and all for! Good news for pupils, parents and staff Miles said the pay increase would result in a.! Non-Essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services the deal 4 % in the top.! From for this i would not be able to answer must have enough to. This is the last offer and it ca n't afford any pay rise, plus an additional one-off payment...., free dinners for all should be accompanied by good teaching for all should be accompanied by good for... Response from us, please do not use this form our website increased ``... To the user icon in the autumn will rise by 5 % to all Statutory scale points on pay... Government announced its plans today following the publication of thefourth Report of the 3 % offered a! Salary for teachers in England and Wales will participate in three teachers are quitting the classroom within first... Are quitting the classroom within their first five years in the first year and go! On all pay scales and all allowances for 2022/23 first year and could up! Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter Over recent weeks, teacher pay rise 2022 wales with unions we have made excellent progress this!