Voting deadline approaches in re-ballot for autumn strikes

THERE is still time to vote in the union’s ballot to continue industrial action over the pay and funding dispute this autumn. The ballot closes on 28 July

Many thousands of members have voted since it opened in May, after rejecting Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s insulting and unfunded 4.5 per cent offer for most teachers.

Head teacher and Wirral NEU assistant secretary Michael Farrelly said: “It has never been more important to vote for this action. Gillian Keegan is just not listening. If we don’t keep up the fight, then what will have been the point in taking action in the first place? As the dispute has gone on, more and more schools in my area have had pickets, many for the first time. We must keep going.”

The union is re-balloting because the mandate for the first series of strikes ended on 13 July.

As Lead went to press, Keegan had failed to reopen pay talks despite receiving the School Teachers’ Review Body report, rumoured to recommend a 6.5 per cent rise for staff. NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney said the delay was “hugely disrespectful” to head teachers who could not plan properly for next year.

Head teacher unions the NAHT and ASCL are also balloting members on strike action until 31 July. It is the first time in its 150year history that ASCL has balloted for industrial action.

ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said that the union had been left with no option.

He said: “This squeeze on school resources is effectively without precedent in post-war UK history.”

Mary and Kevin said: “Our re-ballot allows the NEU to co-ordinate action with other teacher unions in the autumn term if Government does not provide a settlement to the dispute. It is never too late for the Education Secretary to come to the negotiating table and make an improved offer.”

AS Lead went to press, the union’s national executive announced national strikes on 5 and 7 July.

NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney said: “No-one wants to strike but faced with an Education Secretary who has no interest in settling this dispute, teachers are left with no option.”

Why you should vote again WE have come too far to give up our fight for a fully funded, inflation-proofed pay rise.

Three reasons to vote YES:

1. Your determination has put this Government under huge pressure to act in the interests of schools and teachers. We have not come this far to give up the fight for a fully funded, inflation-proofed pay rise. You deserve to be paid properly for the vital work that you do.

2. Pa rents and children rely on us to demand that schools are funded to provide an education system that enables all pupils to fulfil their potential, in schools which are staffed with teachers qualified in the subjects they are teaching.

3. T he profession stands united. Head teacher unions ASCL and the NAHT are balloting their members for industrial action, as is the NASUWT.

Five things to do now:

1. CHECK your post

2. OPEN the envelope from Civica

3. VOTE for strike action on pay and funding

4. POST the envelope

5. CONFIRM that you have voted

By law, the formal re-ballot needs to be postal. The ballot closes on 28 July.