With the prospect of coordinated strike action by four education unions this autumn, it is “inescapable” that the Department for Education must change its approach to the teacher pay dispute.
This week saw two further days of National Education Union (NEU) strike action and an historic pact signed between the four main education unions pledging coordinated strike action this autumn.
The NASUWT, NEU, Association of School of College Leaders, and National Association of Head Teachers are all conducting strike ballots after their members rejected the government’s pay offer.
The rejection was overwhelming in votes held by the four unions: 98% rejected the offer in the NEU vote, 87% in both ASCL’s and the NASUWT’s, and 90% for the NAHT.
The pay offer, which was branded “insulting” by union leaders, centred on a 4.5% average pay rise from September 2023 as well as a £1,000 one-off cash payment this year.
