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Teachers' strikes: When, where and why? Teachers' strikes: When, where and why?
(4 months later)
NASUWT members are taking action short of a strike at schools in England, the union says. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have voted to hold a formal strike ballot if they reject this summer's pay offer.
The four teaching unions in a dispute with the government over pay, earlier this year, accepted an offer in July. Teacher strikes took place across the UK last year over pay, including eight days of walkouts by NEU members in England.
But the NASUWT said it would continue its campaign for better pay, as well as action over excessive workloads and working hours. The four teaching unions in the dispute with the government in England accepted an offer last July, but are continuing to campaign for pay rises in the next school year.
Who is taking action short of a strike? Are more strikes planned?
No more full strikes are planned, after the largest teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), as well as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and NASUWT accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise, in July. No more full strikes are planned at this stage, although the threat of future action has not been ruled out.
But when it announced its decision, the NASUWT said it would continue its campaign over pay, workloads and working hours, including taking action "up to and including industrial action".Members had already voted for strike action and action short of a strike before the union accepted the government's pay offer.The union has now told members to begin working to rule - limiting their working time by following their exact working hours - from Monday, 18 September. Members of the NEU had debated whether - and when - to hold a formal strike ballot over pay for 2024-25 at their annual conference in Bournemouth. Such a ballot could lead to more school strikes from September.
Staff at about 10,000 schools could be involved, it says. The Department for Education (DfE) has called the threat of another strikes ballot "extremely disappointing".
Members of the NASUWT in sixth-form colleges have accepted a pay deal. Last July, the NEU, the largest teaching union, as well as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and NASUWT accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise for 2023-24.
Teachers in Northern Ireland have also been taking action short of a strike since October 2022. NASUWT members decided overwhelmingly against having a new formal ballot on more industrial action over pay and working conditions this year.
The pay dispute has been resolved in Scotland and for NAHT members in Wales. ASCL halted its strike ballot after accepting the government's pay offer last summer, and has held no further ballots or had any sort of industrial action since then.
Will my child's school close? The NAHT has also not held another ballot.
In the event of a teachers' strike, schools in England should open if possible, the government says. What do teachers want?
England
In March, the NAHT, ASCL, Community, NASUWT and NEU teaching unions jointly called for a "fully funded, inflation-plus" pay rise for 2024-25.
They also called for "significant improvements" on workload, saying that was also needed to address problems recruiting and retaining teachers.
Each year, the independent School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) hears submissions from each side and makes recommendations on teacher pay to the government, who ultimately decide on how much to award.
In its own evidence submitted to the STRB in February, the DfE said teacher pay should "return to a more sustainable level" after "two unprecedented years".
But the unions called for the STRB to recommend "urgent significant additional investment" in schools.
Wales
Long-running action ended on 17 November after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding.
Members had been restricting their hours since February 2023 in a dispute with Wales's 22 local councils.
Scotland
Last year's dispute ended in Scotland when unions accepted a 7% rise for 2022-23, backdated to April. They also accepted a 5% rise in April 2023, and a 2% rise in January 2024.
The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) has since submitted a claim for a pay rise of 6.5% to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which represents schools, councils and the Scottish government.
Northern Ireland
In March, all five of Northern Ireland's recognised teachers' unions - the Ulster Teachers' Union, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the NAHT, NEU and NASUWT - accepted pay offers for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
The pay offer will see starting salaries rise to £30,000 and represents a cumulative total rise of 10.4%, plus a £1,000 increase to other teachers and leadership pay scales.
A meeting of the Teachers' Negotiating Committee to ratify the deal is expected to see an end to the campaign of industrial action which has been ongoing since 2022.
Will my child's school close if strikes happen?
Although none are currently planned, schools in England should open where possible in the event of a teachers' strike, the government says.
Teachers do not have to declare in advance if they intend to strike, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about school closures.Teachers do not have to declare in advance if they intend to strike, and there are no rules about when parents must be told about school closures.
Head teachers take a decision on whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning of industrial action, once staff numbers are known.Head teachers take a decision on whether to shut schools. Some parents may only be told about a closure on the morning of industrial action, once staff numbers are known.
There are currently no minimum staffing rules. Head teachers can use agency staff or volunteers, who do not have to follow the curriculum. Under new minimum service level proposals due to come into force by September, unions will have to ensure schools in England stay open on strike days - but the unions have called the new rules "undemocratic".
However, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has written to unions to discuss introducing a minimum level of staff on strike days on a voluntary basis.
Can parents take time off, and what else do you need to know?Can parents take time off, and what else do you need to know?
In England, you can ask for leave to care for "family and dependants", including emergency childcare.In England, you can ask for leave to care for "family and dependants", including emergency childcare.
Your employer must not refuse a reasonable request, but you may not be paid. Alternatively you may be able to take holiday or unpaid parental leave.Your employer must not refuse a reasonable request, but you may not be paid. Alternatively you may be able to take holiday or unpaid parental leave.
Schools have been asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers' children. They are also asked to try to prevent, or reduce, any disruption to exams and other formal assessments. Schools are asked to prioritise vulnerable pupils and key workers' children during strikes. They are also asked to try to prevent, or reduce, any disruption to exams and other formal assessments.
The NEU issued guidance to support arrangements for head teachers to "provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed" on strike days so students who had exams coming up could attend school.The NEU issued guidance to support arrangements for head teachers to "provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed" on strike days so students who had exams coming up could attend school.
Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals if they close.Schools must also support children eligible for benefits-related free school meals if they close.
What do teachers want?
England
Teachers from the four unions had been calling for an above-inflation pay rise, plus extra money to ensure any increase does not come from existing budgets.
Most state school teachers in England had a 5% pay rise for the year 2022-23.
But the IFS says teachers' salaries in England fell by an average of 11% between 2010 and 2022, after taking inflation into account. Unions claim pay has fallen by as much as 23% in that time.
After intensive talks, the government offered an additional one-off payment of £1,000. It also increased the offer for most teachers in 2023-24 to 4.3%, with starting salaries reaching £30,000.
The DfE described it as a "fair and reasonable offer", and said schools would receive an extra £2.3bn over the next two years.
All four unions rejected the deal, and the £1,000 payment was taken off the table.
But then, the independent pay review body submitted its recommendation, of 6.5% for next year's pay award, to the government.
And the joint statement issued in mid-July said a 6.5% rise would "allow teachers and school leaders to call off strike action".
The government will also provide a hardship fund of up to £40m to support those schools facing the greatest financial challenges.
Northern Ireland
There has been no pay deal for teachers in Northern Ireland since 2021.
Then, unions rejected an offer of about 3.2% spread over two years from 2021-23, arguing many teachers would receive less than that.
They have since asked for a pay increase of 6% for 2021-22, and a rise of inflation plus 2% for 2022-23.
The NAHT, the NASUWT, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the Ulster Teachers' Union and the NEU are taking part in strike action.
A half-day strike on 30 November will be followed by a further four days of industrial action after Christmas.
Members of the NASUWT union who work in further education colleges and school leaders from the NAHT joined the strikes for the first time in the current dispute.
It was the first time in its 125-year history that NAHT members had taken strike action over pay.
Teachers in Northern Ireland have also been taking action short of a strike since October 2022, which includes refusing to provide lunchtime supervision or to attend meetings held outside working hours.
Some non-teaching school staff in Northern Ireland are also staging a 24-hour strike on 1 December.
Wales
Teachers from the NEU agreed an increased pay offer of 8% for 2022-23 (a 6.5% increase in annual pay, plus a one-off payment of 1.5%) - and a 5% increase in annual pay for 2023-24.
The NAHT in Wales rejected this initial offer. The union said funding arrangements remained a major concern for school leaders and began action short of a strike from 1 February.
This long-running action ended on Friday, 17 November, after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement along with an improved pay offer and additional funding.
Scotland
The dispute ended in Scotland when unions accepted a 7% rise for 2022-23, backdated to April. They also accepted a 5% rise in April 2023, and a 2% rise in January 2024.
How much are teachers paid?How much are teachers paid?
Classroom teachers were paid an average of £38,982 in the 2021-22 school year in England, £39,009 in Wales and £40,026 in Scotland. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure.Classroom teachers were paid an average of £38,982 in the 2021-22 school year in England, £39,009 in Wales and £40,026 in Scotland. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure.
The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders.The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders.
Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.Experts advise ministers about teacher pay, based on factors such as vacancy rates and subject shortages.
As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.As with all public spending, money allocated in England is awarded proportionately to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Employers also contribute 23.68% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 14.38%.Employers also contribute 23.68% to teacher pensions. Nurses, by comparison, receive 14.38%.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
TeachingTeaching
Primary schoolsPrimary schools
National Association of Head TeachersNational Association of Head Teachers
State schoolsState schools
InflationInflation
Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
EnglandEngland
Strike actionStrike action