By Teachers threaten strike action as they demand an inflation-beating pay rise
The UK’s biggest teaching union is threatening to strike over “alarmingly low” wages, as staff demands an inflation-beating pay rise.
The National Education Union has written to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, demanding “undifferentiated inflation-plus pay rises for all teachers” to prove that they are valued.
If an offer is not agreed upon by the autumn term, the union says it will ballot its members on “their willingness to take industrial action”.
“We will strongly be encouraging them to vote yes,” the union said, “we can no longer stand by while you run education and educators into the ground”.
Today we’ve written to @nadhimzahawi. If teachers don’t receive the above inflation pay increase they deserve, we will be balloting for industrial action.
It’s time to #ValueEducation and #ValueEducators pic.twitter.com/QQBXM4LWb7
— National Education Union (@NEUnion) June 22, 2022
UK inflation is currently at a 40-year high of 9.1%, suggesting the union would want a pay rise above that rate.
The teaching union has also called for a 12% pay increase for teachers this year, and said it will ballot members in England, Wales and Scotland for industrial action.
Ballots would not be called until Mr Zahawi responds to the conclusions of the School Teachers’ Review Body report, expected to be released at the end of the school year.
A pay award for 2022/23 is due in November.
The NEU says Mr Zahawi told the pay review body teachers should get a 3% pay rise, but inflation has “increased dramatically” since then.
Last week, the Bank of England warned inflation was on track to reach 11% later this year, with gas and electricity prices continuing to soar.
Teachers threat of industrial action comes amid the UK-wide rail strikes which closed 80% of train services this week.
Barristers have already agreed to strike from next week in a dispute over legal aid funding.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents barristers in England and Wales, said several days of court walkouts would begin on Monday, with action lasting weeks.
It means that cases at which barristers are required are likely to have to be postponed, including crown court trials.
Barristers are expected to stage picket lines outside court, including at the Old Bailey in London and at crown courts in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and Manchester.
