Teachers warn they’re putting Tories ’on notice’ of more school strikes as ballot delayed

04 April 2024 , 18:36

485     0

Teachers warn they’re putting Tories ’on notice’ of more school strikes as ballot delayed

The National Education Union (NEU) said its members will first take part in a ’snap poll"’on the Tories’ pay and funding offer for 2024/25 - once it is published

The UK’s largest teaching union has delayed a formal ballot on strike action - but warned it was putting the Tories "on notice".

The National Education Union (NEU) said it would ask hundreds of thousands of teachers in England and Wales to vote on industrial action "if and when necessary to save our schools and colleges". 

There had been speculation a formal ballot could have been announced on Thursday - paving the way for possible school strikes during the autumn term. But instead delegates at the NEU’s annual conference voted for members to first take part in a "snap poll" on the Tories’ pay and funding offer for 2024/25 - once it is published.

If the pay offer is rejected with a "convincing turnout" in the snap poll then the NEU will move to a "formal ballot" on strikes. The Government has not yet published the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), or its decision on whether to accept them. 

General Secretary Daniel Kebede said the union will fight "to win a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise and greater resources for schools and colleges". Warning education is "on its knees", he said: “Today, the NEU put this Government, and any new Government that follows it, on notice."

In a message to the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, he called for an urgent fix to the teachers’ retention crisis and direct meetings over pay and schools’ funding. 

Mr Kebede added: “The Government needs to take action to solve the crisis that is threatening to destroy education. But if it – or any Government that comes after it – does not, we will.”

The urgent motion passed by the NEU at the union’s annual conference also states: "Conference understands that Labour will likely form the next government. Whilst we will be able to work with a Labour government on some policy areas, we will need to campaign against them on others. No matter who is in government, the bedrock of our power is collective organisation and action at the workplace." 

An indicative ballot of members in England last week found 90.3% of backed strike action for an above-inflation pay rise in 2024/25, on a turnout of 50.3%.

James Smith