save our schools

10,000 marched from the south bank Westminster, where a minute’s silence was held

Further Strikes Announced

THE union’s executive has announced two more days of national strike action on 5 and 7 July as members’ anger at the Education Secretary’s refusal to resolve the pay dispute grows.

Gillian Keegan has “wilfully turned her back on teachers in England”, said NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney. “No one wants to take strike action but when faced with an Education Secretary who clearly has no interest in settling this dispute, teachers are left with no option.”

Ministers in Scotland and Wales resolved the pay dispute with teachers several months ago. Keegan offered teachers in England an insulting and unfunded 4.5 per cent for 2023/24 at the end of March, following six days of intensive talks with unions.

That offer was rejected by 98 per cent of NEU members balloted.

Keegan has not met with unions since Easter, claiming she was waiting for recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), the independent pay review body for teachers.

Education Secretary Could Act To Avoid Strikes

The STRB’s report, which is rumoured to recommend a 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers next year, was leaked to the national press in early June, but the Education Secretary has since not published it.

Announcing the July industrial action as Educate went to press, Mary and Kevin said: “It is within Gillian Keegan’s grasp for this action to be halted. She could avoid the strikes in July by publishing the STRB report, entering substantive talks with us and our fellow education unions to find a settlement based on the report, its funding and this year’s pay rise.” continued from page 7

They added that her delay in releasing it was causing huge uncertainty for schools and was “hugely disrespectful” to head teachers, leaving them unable to plan properly for next year.

The pay dispute has now been running for six months and looks set to continue into the next academic year.