Now parents face co-ordinated strikes by teachers and heads as four unions prepare to join forces and walk out together
- The NEU, NASUWT, NAHT and ASCL will coordinate on any future strike action
- NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said decision was a ‘show of solidarity’
Fresh teacher strikes are expected this Autumn as four major education unions intend to coordinate industrial action over a long-running dispute about pay.
The National Education Union (NEU), the NASUWT, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) will team up over any future strike action over pay, it was announced today.
It comes as teacher members of the NEU staged fresh strikes in schools and sixth form colleges across England on Thursday.
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman described the decision as an ‘unprecedented show of solidarity’ which sends a ‘clear signal’ to the Government.
But the Government said it had made a ‘fair and reasonable’ pay offer.
Fresh teacher strikes are expected this Autumn as four major education unions intend to coordinate industrial action over a long-running dispute about pay
The National Education Union (NEU), the NASUWT, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) will team up over any future strike action over pay
Mr Whiteman said: ‘This is an unprecedented show of solidarity from the education unions. It sends a clear signal to government that our dispute is not going away.
‘Any illusions they may have had that we would be put off by their derisory first offer and refusal to continue to negotiate should be shattered.
‘School staff will not put up with eroded pay, squeezed school funding and unbearable workload and working conditions any longer and we are fully united together in fighting for change.’
NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney added: ‘In washing her hands of any responsibility for resolving the teacher pay and funding dispute, the Education Secretary has united the teaching profession in its determination to not accept the poor offer currently on the table.
‘Parents and the education profession will be in no doubt that if further industrial action needs to be taken the blame for this will lie squarely at the Government’s door.’
It comes as teacher members of the NEU staged fresh strikes in schools and sixth form colleges across England on Thursday
The Government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise for staff next year following intensive talks with the education unions. But all four education unions rejected the pay offer.
The NAHT will re-ballot its members in England during the summer term on strike action, with possible walkouts in the autumn if the ballot is successful.
The NEU will re-ballot its teacher members in England in a bid to take further action in the autumn and teachers in England represented by the NASUWT union will be re-balloted on strike action.
And the ASCL is also due to hold a formal ballot for national strike action in England for the first time in its history.
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