Agony for parents as teachers vote in favour of MORE school strikes bringing misery to millions
FRESH school strikes are on the cards as government pay offers are rejected.
They could see thousands of kids across the UK stay at home for days as teacher walkouts close schools.
School strikes are set to leave hard-pressed parents either forking out for childcare or taking time off work.
The potential industrial action has been masterminded by the National Education Union (NEU) amid a row over pay.
Teachers have voted to reject the Government’s offer of 2.8 per cent for all teachers and leaders in England, according to the NEU.
The union’s members announced their willingness to strike in order to gain more funding for school staff recruitment and retention, the organisation said.
Overall, 93.7 per cent of NEU members who responded to the preliminary ballot voted to reject the Government’s recommendation of a 2.8 per cent pay rise.
And, 83.4 per cent said they would be willing to strike.
After the ballot, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, criticised years of “pay cuts against inflation” and said a “relentless workload”, has led to a “recruitment and retention crisis” across all schools in England.
He said: “Our members know that there needs to be a major pay correction, with teacher pay significantly improved against inflation and other professions, for us to have any hope of filling vacancies in our schools or attracting graduates into teaching.
“The Government’s response is a 2.8 per cent increase from September which will be below inflation and way behind earnings growth in the wider economy.
“To add insult to injury, the pay offer is unfunded, with Government suggesting ‘efficiencies’ will cover the cost.
“Our members tell us every day of the desperate state their schools are in due to lack of funding – and this will only make things worse.
“The Government must listen to our profession and change course on teacher pay.
“And it must recognise the dire state of school funding and invest in education, to give the next generation the best chance possible in life.
“We call on the Government to do the right thing and fund fair pay and invest in our schools.”
The preliminary electronic ballot, of serving teacher members who work in English state schools, ran from March 1 to April 11, the organisation said.
The overall turnout was 134,487, or 47.2 per cent of those eligible to vote, according to the union.
In February and March of 2023, strikes took place across seven days.
On February 1 school staff in England and Wales staged their first walkout.
Then they went ahead on a regional basis on February 14 and 28, and March 1, 2.
Finally, nationwide walkouts in England and Wales were held on March 15 and 16.
At the time, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union, 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.”