Teachers' union threatens strike action over pay and conditions

The union has a reputation for determined and sustained industrial action once a ballot is passed

Suggested Topics

Lengthy strikes by teachers over pay and working conditions could hit schools across the country this autumn, the leader of one of the largest teaching unions warns today.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said her members "can't rule out strike action" and that if they held a successful ballot "we would look at a rolling programme of action".

Union members plan to list their grievances with the Government – which include increased pension contributions, pay curbs, the scrapping of national pay rates and longer hours – in a motion at its conference, which opens in Birmingham tomorrow. The union has been operating a work-to-rule in schools since the end of last year in protest at increased working hours.

So far the action has taken the form of refusing to undertake work such as covering for absent colleagues or administrative duties.

Speaking to The Independent, Ms Keates said: "We will be debating a big motion on what is the next stage of our industrial strategy.

"It will be a ratcheting up of our action in the autumn term, when we will be in the second year of pay curbs, have been paying increased pension contributions for six months, new performance management regulations [spot checks on teachers in classrooms] and planned changes to teachers' pay and conditions."

The threat will be particularly worrying for the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, because the union has a reputation for determined and sustained industrial action once a ballot has been passed.

Ms Keates added: "Our action has been short of strike action because we want to make a stand, but we want to do it with minimum disruption to pupils and parents. I can see us ratcheting it up if that kind of smart action is not going to work, though."

Her comments come as the two largest teachers' unions begin their Easter conferences today. The National Union of Teachers (NUT), which is meeting in Torquay, is expected to debate two priority motions calling for industrial action over pensions and pay.

Combined action by the two unions is likely to lead to widespread closures of schools. Meanwhile, a briefing note prepared by the NUT warns of the impact of cuts in local authority budgets on schools.

"Examples of services affected so far include special needs school funding, with almost one in five councils cutting services to deaf children. More than 50 local authorities have either abolished or cut staffing levels in their Traveller education service," it says.

The document paints a picture of "thousands of children missing out on trips to galleries and museums, cuts to school sports, arts and music education funding." It adds: "All areas of education spending will see real-terms cuts, though the severity of the cuts varies: early years, 16 to 19 education and capital funding will see particularly severe cuts."

A spokesman for the Department for Education said it was "far too early" for the unions to talk of strikes. The Schools minister Nick Gibb, reacting to a one-day strike by teachers in London over threats to their pensions, said: "Strikes never solve anything."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
South Africa
15 nights from only £1,899pp Find out more
Paris and the Cote d’Azur city break
Seven nights from £579pp Find out more
Seville, Granada and Malaga break
Seven nights from £549pp Find out more
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs Education

Teaching Programme Officer with Qualified Teacher Status

£28000 - £31500 per annum + benefits: Randstad Education Newcastle: Permanent ...

KS2 PPA teacher

£85 - £120 per day: Randstad Education Cheshire: KS2 teacher needed to do PPA ...

Nursery Chef Needed for Southwark Children and Family Centres

£65 - £80 per day: Randstad Education London: We are currently looking for a N...

Special Needs Teacher

£36000 - £37000 per annum: Randstad Education London: Special Needs Teacher ne...

Day In a Page

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in