Teacher strikes: NEU announces 2 more dates in England
It comes as members of the NEU will walk out on July 5 and 7 which is set to cause disruptions during the current term time.
This follows on from strike action by the NEU in February, March and May this year.
Itâs been reported that the NEU is currently re-balloting its members so they can decide if they want to continue taking industrial action throughout the rest of 2023.
BREAKING: Teachers will go on strike for another two days this school term, the National Education Union has announced.
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However, they are not the only ones balloting as other education unions including ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT will be balloting their members for strikes over pay and funding for teachers in the country.
This means co-ordinated action from the several unions in the autumn term if no agreement is reached.
NEU secretaries issue statement on latest planned strike action
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, said it was within the grasp of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan for the âaction to be halted.â
âTime and again the National Education Union, alongside its sister unions, have called for the Education Secretary to get around the negotiation table to settle this dispute for a fully-funded teacher pay increase. Time and again our calls have fallen on stony ground,â they said.
âThe Education Secretary refused to re-enter negotiation on the grounds that she and her department were waiting for the publication of the School Teachersâ Review Bodyâs (STRB) recommendation on pay.â
The NEU said the minister had received the bodyâs report and recommendations, but would not comment on speculation that it was suggesting a 6.5% pay rise.
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â Department for Education (@educationgovuk) June 15, 2023
They added: âGillian Keegan also says that she will publish the report in her own good time, which by her departmentâs recent record will be at least another month.
âThis causes huge uncertainty for schools and is hugely disrespectful to headteachers. None are able to properly plan for next year.
âUnlike her counterparts in Scotland and Wales where the pay disputes have been settled, this Education Secretary has wilfully turned her back on teachers in England.
âNo one wants to take strike action but when faced with an Education Secretary who clearly has no interest in settling this dispute, teachers are left with no option.
âGillian Keegan could avoid the strikes in July by publishing the STRB report, entering substantive talks with us and the education unions ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT to find a settlement on its response to the report, its funding and this yearâs pay rise.â
STATEMENT: This afternoon weâve announced two new strikes on 5th and 7th July. Itâs time for @GillianKeegan to #SaveOurSchools
More details here:
â National Education Union (@NEUnion) June 17, 2023
A Department for Education spokesperson said: âFurther strike action will cause real damage to pupil learning and even more disruption for parents right across the country.
âThousands of schools are receiving significant additional funding as part of the extra ÂŁ2 billion of investment we are providing for both 2023/24 and 2024/25 which will take school funding its highest level in history next year, as measured by the IFS.
âAs part of the normal process, the independent School Teachersâ Review Body has submitted its recommendations to Government on teacher pay for 2023/24. We will be considering the recommendations and will publish our response in the usual way.â