Teachers across England and Wales have commenced strike action today (Wednesday 1 February) in a dispute over pay.
Around 23,000 schools will be affected due to more than 100,000 teachers in sixth form colleges, state-funded school and academies in England and Wales, and support staff in state-funded schools in Wales, walking out. Support staff members in England did not meet the legal ballot thresholds, so did not take action.
According to the National Education Union (NEU), 90.4% of its members in England voted yes to taking industrial action on a turnout of 53.3%, while 84% of support staff voted yes on a turnout of 46.5%. Teachers in Wales voted by 92% for strike action on a turnout of 58.1%, and support staff voted 88% for action on a turnout of 51.3%.
The union asked for a pay rise that is above the inflation rate for teachers and support staff, and effective action on pay for supply and other educators. Many state school teachers in England and Wales received a 5% pay rise in 2022.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers met with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan earlier this week, but the talk was unsuccessful.
An NEU spokesperson said: “Members have voted in overwhelming numbers to take strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise. Our ballot of teacher, support staff and leader members in 23,400 schools throughout England and Wales is the largest vote for strike action achieved by any union ever in the UK.
“It sends a resounding message to the government: we won’t stand by and watch the destruction of education without taking a stand. But it’s a last resort. We are the biggest union to achieve this mandate, and it’s built on members’ anger that they cannot do the job they want to do for their pupils.”