Michael Gove with school pupils. Photograph courtesy of Regional Cabinet
Two of the UK’s biggest teachers’ unions, NUT and NASUWT, have announced plans for a national strike across England before the end of the year if Education Michael Gove does not meet with them.
Gove has said that he is willing to meet with the unions, but that there is little room for negotiation over the issues of pay, pensions, and workloads.
Whilst the unions, which represent nine out of ten teachers, have not fixed a date for their “one-day, all-out national strike”, they will continue their programme of rolling regional strikes.
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:
At the start of the new academic year, the last thing teachers wish to be doing is preparing for further industrial action. It is a great shame that the Education Secretary has let things get to this stage.
With pay pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an Education Secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate teachers now however have no other choice.
Michael Gove has demoralised an entire profession, it is time that he started to listen for the sake of teachers, pupils and education.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
The attacks on teachers are relentless.
The reward for their hard work, dedication and commitment has been a vicious assault on their pay, conditions and professionalism.
Teachers will be angered by the recklessness of the Secretary of State’s continuing failure to take seriously their concerns and engage in genuine discussions to address them.
Current rolling strikes are planned on the following days in these regions:
- 1st October – Eastern, Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside Government regions
- 17th October – North East Government region, Cumbria, London, South East and South West Government regions
