Teachers to strike in row over changes to their terms and conditions
Katy Morton
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The two largest teaching unions have announced a programme of rolling strike action across the country as part of a continuing campaign over changes to teachers' pay, pensions and working conditions.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and NASUWT have set the first strike for 27 June in the North-West of England as part of a rolling programme of national strikes across the rest of the country to continue into the autumn term. A one day national strike is also planned, along with rallies across England and Wales in April and May.
Between them the NUT and NASUWT represent nine out of ten teachers in England and Wales.
The unions say they are taking this action because despite discussions with the Secretary of State for Education over the last ten months, Michael Gove has failed to engage in proper consultation on fundamental changes to teachers’ terms and conditions of service and is unwilling to negotiate on plans for reform.
In a joint letter to the education secretary, the NUT and NASUWT claim that ‘morale across the profession has reached dangerously low-levels and is continuing to decline as a result of imposed changes adversely affecting teachers’ pay, pensions, working conditions and job security.’
It goes on to say, ‘A positive response from you to our demands would be in the best interests of the children and young people in our schools and colleges as it would help arrest the disturbing collapse of morale that we have seen in the teaching profession over the last two years. It would also help to avoid the major teacher recruitment and retention problems that your plan will cause.’
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said, ‘The time has come for the Secretary of State to listen to the concerns of teachers and school leaders. He has recklessly pursued a relentless attack on the profession and teacher’s patience has been exhausted.
‘The Secretary of State still has time to avoid widespread disruption in schools by responding positively and quickly to the reasonable demands we are making.’
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, added, ‘We have already rejected the new pension arrangements and the proposed deregulation of teachers’ pay.
‘The attacks on pay and pensions in combination with increasing workload is making teaching an unsustainable option for many.’
