National strikes are to take place on 1 February, 15 and 16 March, along with several other regional dates.
It follows a ballot by the National Education Union (NEU) of its members in England and Wales, who voted ‘overwhelmingly’ for strike action in response to a ‘failure’ by the education secretary and employers in Wales to provide teachers with a fully-funded pay increase which at least matches inflation.
Most state school teachers in England and Wales were given a 5 per cent pay rise this year.
Reports suggest that the education secretary Gillian Keegan will meet union leaders this week.
The NEU – the largest education union in the UK -said the strike, which will happen nationally and regionally, will affect 23,400 schools in England and Wales.
It has declared seven days of strike action in February and March, although any individual school will only be affected by four out of the seven dates.
The days of action are as follows:
- 1 February – all schools in England and Wales
- 14 February – all schools in Wales
- 28 February – North and north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber
- 1 March – East Midlands, West Midlands and the NEU’s eastern region
- 2 March – South-east and south-west England and London
- 15 and 16 March – two-day strike of all schools in England and Wales
There was also a vote to strike for support staff, however despite members being ‘hugely’ in favour of action, there was not enough support to meet the legal threshold.
Headteachers in England will not be taking part in the strike action, but those in Wales will be following ballots by the NAHT union.
'We are willing to enter into negotiations at any time, any place, but this situation cannot go on.'
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint seneral Secretaries of the National Education Union (NEU), said, ‘We have continually raised our concerns with successive education secretaries about teacher and support staff pay and its funding in schools and colleges, but instead of seeking to resolve the issue they have sat on their hands. It is disappointing that the Government prefers to talk about yet more draconian anti-strike legislation, rather than work with us to address the causes of strike action.
‘This is not about a pay rise but correcting historic real-terms pay cuts. The average 5 per cent pay rise for teachers this year is some 7 per cent behind inflation. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, that is an unsustainable situation.
'The Government has also been happy to sit by as their own recruitment targets are routinely missed. Teachers are leaving in droves, a third gone within five years of qualifying. This is a scandalous waste of talent and taxpayers' money, yet the Government seems unbothered about the conditions they are allowing schools and colleges to slide into.
‘It continues to be the aspiration of the NEU and its membership that this dispute can be resolved without recourse to strike action. We regret having to take strike action, and are willing to enter into negotiations at any time, any place, but this situation cannot go on.’
Early years strike vote
Following the ballot of teaching staff, chief executive of nursery group LEYF, June O’Sullivan, put out a vote on Twitter to early years staff on industrial action. Of the 287 users that voted, more than 80 per cent said they would be in favour of strike action.
- Are you an EYFS or Reception teacher planning on striking? If so, get in touch with us by emailing: news.nw@markallengroup.com
