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Teachers planning strikes in England Teachers planning strikes in England
(35 minutes later)
The two biggest teachers' unions are threatening a national one-day strike in England before Christmas in a row over pay, pensions and workloads.The two biggest teachers' unions are threatening a national one-day strike in England before Christmas in a row over pay, pensions and workloads.
But the NUT and NASUWT have held back from announcing a date and are calling for talks rather than "megaphone diplomacy" with the government.But the NUT and NASUWT have held back from announcing a date and are calling for talks rather than "megaphone diplomacy" with the government.
The teachers' unions have given dates in October for their continuing campaign of rolling regional strikes.The teachers' unions have given dates in October for their continuing campaign of rolling regional strikes.
The Department for Education described the strikes as "disappointing".The Department for Education described the strikes as "disappointing".
There will be regional strikes on 1 October in the east of England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside and on 17 October in London, North East, South East and South West.There will be regional strikes on 1 October in the east of England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside and on 17 October in London, North East, South East and South West.
Teachers have accused the government of "reckless and irresponsible behaviour" and say that Mr Gove has refused to engage in meaningful negotiations. There will not now be any regional strikes in Wales.
But the government has said the walkouts are disruptive to pupils' education. Teachers have accused the government of "reckless and irresponsible behaviour" and say that Education Secretary Michael Gove has refused to engage in meaningful negotiations.
The government says such strikes will disrupt pupils' learning, inconvenience parents and damage the reputation of teachers.
In a speech in London on Thursday, Michael Gove rejected claims that reforms had damaged teachers' morale, saying that teaching "has never been more attractive, more popular or more rewarding".
'No choice''No choice'
Mr Gove wrote to both unions in March to say he was willing to meet them but the "direction of travel" on their key issues was "fixed". The teachers' union leaders say they want to negotiate on changes to pay and pensions.
Under his reforms, set to come into effect from this autumn, pay will be linked to performance in the classroom and schools will set salaries, rather than follow a national framework. Under reforms, set to come into effect from this autumn, pay will be linked to performance in the classroom and head teachers will have greater flexibility over salaries.
Changes have also been made to public sector pensions. Teachers have also protested against changes to their pensions.
The regional strikes began to take place in June. The regional strikes announced on Thursday are a continuation of a rolling series of strikes launched in the summer term.
The teachers' unions say they will decide on a national strike after the next regional strikes in October.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: "At the start of the new academic year, the last thing teachers wish to be doing is preparing for further industrial action.Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: "At the start of the new academic year, the last thing teachers wish to be doing is preparing for further industrial action.
"With pay, pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an education secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate teachers now have no other choice.""With pay, pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an education secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate teachers now have no other choice."
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "Teachers will be angered by the recklessness of the secretary of state's continuing failure to take seriously their concerns and engage in genuine discussions to address them." Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said the teachers' unions would meet the government "any time, any place" and that parents would understand that teachers' needed to protect their pay and conditions.
The education secretary is due to deliver a speech on the teaching profession later in the day.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and Nasuwt are striking over the government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.A Department for Education spokesperson said: "It is disappointing that the NUT and Nasuwt are striking over the government's measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.
"In a recent poll, 61% of respondents supported linking teachers' pay to performance and 70% either opposed the strikes or believed that teachers should not be allowed to strike at all.""In a recent poll, 61% of respondents supported linking teachers' pay to performance and 70% either opposed the strikes or believed that teachers should not be allowed to strike at all."