02 February 2023 , 03:03
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Teachers may be forced to reveal their plans to strike under new plans being considered by ministers.
A potential rule change could see more requirements placed upon striking staff in the aftermath of Wednesday's mass industrial action, which saw up to half a million workers walking out in bitter disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.
It comes after education secretary Gillian Keegan revealed she was surprised to learn that teachers are not legally required to let heads know whether they planned to turn up on strike days.
A government source quoted by the Daily Mail has suggested ministers may now choose to "act" and enshrine this in law, which they claim would give schools time to put contingency plans in place.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said she was 'surprised' to find out teachers didn't have to declare whether they were striking (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)They said: "It is ridiculous that unions are able to add to the disruption caused by refusing to provide the basic information needed to make contingency plans,
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
"If this is something that is going to become a regular tactic then we will have to act on it."
Teachers in England and Wales, members of the National Education Union (NEU), embarked on their first day of strikes yesterday as they warned they have "concern" about the future of education.
A huge march of striking teachers and protesters was seen in central London, while other demonstrations were also seen across the country including Leeds, Cambridge, Liverpool, Nottingham and Cornwall.
Demonstrations took place yesterday on the largest day of walkouts by teachers in over a decade (PA)It follows a dispute about the Government’s offer of a 5% pay rise for most teachers, which works out as a 5% cut due to inflation.
On the morning of the strike action, Ms Keegan told LBC she had written to schools asking staff to give their heads notice, saying: "I wrote to them and said, ‘If you are going to strike, please inform your head’, because it’s important that… (they try) to minimise the disruption as much as possible.
"They need to help them (headteachers) in that by being fair and letting them know if they’re going to be striking or not."
More strike days are planned in England and Wales until the middle of next month (PA)She added that she felt it was "unreasonable” for teachers not to notify their bosses about their intention to strike in advance, and that it was "a surprise to some of us" that it was not already required.
Several days of rolling strikes by teachers and educational staff are currently set to run until the middle of next month, barring any resolution to the dispute.
A national strike in England and Wales will take place on on March 15 and 16, with separate strike in Wales is scheduled for February 14 and more regional walkouts in England on February 28, March 1 and 2.