National Union of Teachers and NASUWT say they will begin 'rolling programme' of strikes over pay, pensions and workload
Teachers join a march against pension cuts last year in London. Photograph: Paul Davey/Demotix/Corbis
Teachers in England are to stage a series of strikes in the summer in a continuing row over pay, pensions and workload, the National Union of Teachers and the NASUWT have said.
In a joint announcement, the two unions – which represent nine out of 10 secondary and primary school teachers in England and Wales – said they would continue their current "work to rule" actions, hold rallies across England and Wales in April and May, and begin "a rolling programme of national strikes" starting in north-west England on 27 June.
The strikes would continue into the autumn term – including a one-day national strike – unless Michael Gove, the education secretary, "responds positively to the union's demands".
Since September last year, the NUT and NASUWT have urged their members to stick rigidly to their job descriptions – or "work to rule". This means, for example, refusing to supervise children during lunchbreaks and not handing in lesson plans to management.
The unions' leaders say the action is in protest at pay freezes, increased workload and rising pension contributions.
Ministers have called the action irresponsible and have urged schools to dock teachers' pay if they are involved. The government has enlisted a firm of solicitors to advise schools on how to react.
"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, the general secretary of the NUT, said: "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.
Guardian
