This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23970281
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Teachers' unions planning autumn 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. |
| There will not now be any regional strikes in Wales. | There will not now be any regional strikes in Wales. |
| Call for talks | |
| Teachers have accused the government of "reckless and irresponsible behaviour" and say that Education Secretary Michael Gove has refused to engage in meaningful negotiations. | 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. | The government says such strikes will disrupt pupils' learning, inconvenience parents and damage the reputation of teachers. |
| In a speech in London on Thursday, Mr Gove rejected claims that reforms had damaged teachers' morale, saying that teaching "has never been more attractive, more popular or more rewarding". | |
| He emphasised the vital importance of teaching and hailed the rising quality and status of teachers. | |
| The government was "clearing away the distractions and slashing the unnecessary bureaucracy and central prescription which sapped so much of teachers' time and energy", said Mr Gove. | |
| Labour's Stephen Twigg said the coalition was "undermining teacher professionalism by allowing unqualified teachers to be employed in schools on a permanent basis". | |
| The teachers' union leaders, announcing strike dates, say they want to negotiate on changes to pay and pensions. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Teachers have also protested against changes to their pensions. | Teachers have also protested against changes to their pensions. |
| The regional strikes announced on Thursday are a continuation of a rolling series of strikes launched in the summer term. | 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. | 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 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. | |
| 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." |