Teachers in Wales to strike next month after rejecting a pay offer

Teachers in Wales will go on strike on March 2nd after rejecting a pay offer from the Welsh government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The National Education Union (NEU) rejected the offer, which included an additional 1.5% to teachers’ pay and a 1.5% lump sum. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The NEU said the offer “falls short” of what is needed, failing to address the cost-of-living crisis, spiraling inflation, or the damage done to pay since 2010. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The industrial action was scheduled after discussions with Education Minister Jeremy Miles last week. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney stated that the union had a “clear mandate” for the strike action, which was originally scheduled for February 14 but postponed to convey details of the pay offer to members. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

NEU Wales Secretary David Evans added that the union is committed to seeking a resolution to the dispute on behalf of teacher and support staff members employed across Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Whilst we acknowledge that the Welsh Government has made offers that include seeking to address workload and reopening negotiations for 2023/24, those offers still fall short of our members’ expectations and needs,” Evans said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The strike will affect schools across Wales, and the NEU thanked the Education Minister for being prepared to negotiate with the union, in stark contrast to the Westminster government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The offer was made as a result of discussions with the Education Minister, but the union rejected the offer, stating that it did not address the issues at hand. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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