Plans are in place for a national teachers’ strike in England before Christmas in a row over adverse changes to teachers’ pay, pensions, working conditions and jobs. This is the next phase of a campaign to protect teachers and defend education, jointly coordinated by the two biggest UK teachers' unions which represent nine out of 10 teachers.
Other more immediate actions will commence in October. This follows the continued refusal of Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, to genuinely engage with the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT). The unions, both EI affiliates, are seeking to resolve their trade disputes with him.
The plans for the next stage of industrial action will include:
- 1 October - strike action in the Eastern, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside regions
- 17 October - strike action in North East, London, South East and South West regions
On the strike days, teachers will attend regional rallies to demonstrate their anger, frustration and concern.
Plans are also in place for a one-day, all-out national strike before the end of the Autumn term.
NUT: Teachers have no other choice
“At the start of the new academic year, the last thing teachers wish to be doing is preparing for further industrial action,” said Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary and President of EI’s European region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE). “It is a great shame that the Education Secretary has let things get to this stage. With pay pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an Education Secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate, teachers now, however, have no other choice.”
She emphasised that Education Secretary Michael Gove has demoralised an entire profession, and it is time that he started to listen for the sake of teachers, pupils, and education.
NASUWT: Anger at lack of genuine dialogue
“The attacks on teachers are relentless,” noted NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates. “The reward for their hard work, dedication and commitment has been a vicious assault on their pay, conditions and professionalism.”
Teachers are angered by the recklessness of the Secretary of State’s continuing failure to take seriously their concerns and engage in genuine discussions to address them, she stressed.
EI: no quality education without social dialogue
EI is urging the UK Government to immediately engage dialogue in good-faith. “Respect for the educators’ trade union rights is indispensable to ensure quality education for all in the country,” said Martin Romer, Director of EI’s European region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education.