Teachers’ unions have warned that if ministers continue to resist “smart solutions” to the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention, union members will be forced to vote again over strike action in the coming months. ing.
The three unions have threatened to go on strike over wages, resulting in a “heartbreaking” decision for teachers and teaching assistants to quit their jobs, he said. Despite nearly 90% of NASUWT members voting in favor of industrial action last week, Voter turnout was 42%, below the required 50% thresholdTwo more unions, NEU and NAHT, will announce their vote results on 16 January.
Expectations remain high within unions that the strike will be approved, but some unions have already shown support for the strike, prompting them to initiate new strike attempts if wage negotiations do not progress. He warns that you will feel obligated to do so.
NAHT General Secretary Paul Whiteman said: Observer Principals and teachers will expect unions to keep fighting.
“It’s fair to say that controversy doesn’t go away just because technical limits aren’t being met,” he said. “Members expect their unions to find solutions with their employers. There is always the possibility that members will vote in a second ballot if a sensible solution is not reached, but these thresholds are The values are being met.If there is any relief the government may be feeling, they should think again.”
Unions are already concerned that ballots may not be reaching all members, and the impact of mail disruptions will also be investigated if the 50% turnout threshold is not met. .
Whiteman warns that a decade of declining wages is now putting significant pressure on teachers’ career ambitions, and that “broken hearted” teacher assistants now routinely make significant cuts to move into retail. You are being offered a raise.
“Now we have this ridiculous situation where a very skilled and very well trained teaching assistant can make more money working in a supermarket than taking care of vulnerable children. According to principals, teaching assistants and support staff often hand in tearful resignations because they can’t make ends meet, so they have to leave the jobs they love and the children they love to support. But they have to invest a lot, and supermarkets can pay them much more.
“Today, there are too many children who are not being taught by subject matter experts.
“The same crisis that we see in health is happening in education. If we don’t invest in that education, it will have a very long-term impact on our country’s ability to become a major player on the world stage.”
Further talks are expected this week between the education unions and the ministry of education, despite no progress so far. Some ministers hope to use the debate over next year’s wage deal to settle the ongoing dispute over last year’s settlement. achieved wage growth of 5% below inflation.
of Observer Most public schools in England and Wales Should be fully closed in a few days When the NEU, the country’s largest education union, voted for industrial action in February and March. NAHT salary vote For the first time in our 125-year history.
A Ministry of Education spokesperson said: The Secretary of Education has arranged further meetings with union leaders to avoid detrimental strike action. In a statement in the fall, he has already met union demands to add another £2 billion to schools both next year and the year after, giving teachers the best he has paid in 30 years. “
