A Bolton school teacher says that strikes planned for the summer term are a “last resort” and could be averted if the Government provided a “properly funded education system”.
The National Education Union (NEU) is planning five days of teacher walkouts in the summer term and possible action in the autumn in the dispute over pay.
The Government offered teachers a £1,000 one-off payment for the current school year (2022/23) and an average 4.5 per cent pay rise for staff next year (2023/24) after a period of talks with unions.
The NEU is planning five days of teacher walkouts in the summer term and possible action in the autumn in the dispute over pay.
Delegates at the National Education Union’s (NEU) annual conference voted in support of a three-day strike in late June/early July.
The union announced two further strike days on April 27 and May 2 on Monday after 98 per cent of members who responded in a consultative ballot voted to turn down the Government’s pay offer.
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Robert Poole – who is a secondary teacher at Sharples School and a member of the NEU– says that the offer from the Government is “mostly unfunded” and would come out of the school budget.
He continued: “It’s a last resort really.
“We can’t accept this offer because it would end up leading to further damage in our already struggling education system.
“It is a one-off payment for this year and is mostly unfunded and would come out of the school budget.
“There is plenty of time for the Government to come back with a serious offer that will avert these strikes.”
Mr Poole also says that teachers are doing all they can to prepare Year 11,12, and 13 pupils and students for their exams, “to ensure pupils do well”.
He added: “It’s all hands on deck to prepare Year 11,12, and 13 students and pupils for their exams.
“We will be working evenings, weekends, and over Easter for pupils.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure our pupils do well.
“The way to avert any further disruption is to have a properly funded education system.”
Mr Poole says he expects there to be picket lines at most schools on all the strike days.
And it has emerged that school leaders in England could be balloted again over strike action after union members overwhelmingly rejected the Government’s pay offer.
More than three-quarters (78%) of National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) members who voted said they would be prepared to vote for action up to and including strikes if the deal was turned down.
A Department for Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: “After costing children almost a week of time in the classroom and with exams fast approaching, it is extremely disappointing that the NEU are re-balloting for more strike action up until Christmas this year.
“The offer was funded, including major new investment of over half a billion pounds, and helps tackle issues teachers are facing like workload.
“NEU, NAHT and ASCL’s decision to reject this offer will simply result in more disruption for children and less money for teachers today.”
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