Teachers’ strikes: “Urgency in discussions” needed to prevent further action

“One day’s disruption through strike action is dwarfed by the long-term damage caused by policy on education funding, on workload, and on pay”, a senior spokesperson at National Education Union (NEU) has said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Thousands of teachers across England and Wales have staged their first day of industrial action amid calls for a fully-funded increase in pay for teachers which at least matches inflation and ‌improved working conditions. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Teachers across Wrexham were amongst those either on the picket line today outside schools or taking part in a march through the city centre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In Wales a 92.28 percent majority of NEU members voted yes on a turnout of 58.07 percent, with further action scheduled to take place on
Tuesday 14 February, Wednesday 15 March and Thursday 16 March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking after today’s strikes David Evans, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru, warned that unless there is urgency in discussions with government ministers then further strikes will go ahead. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Evans said: “Today, teachers and support staff in Wales’ schools, took strike action in pursuit of a fully-funded, above inflation pay rise. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“They have been short-changed for over a decade, with significant real-terms cuts to pay and unfunded rises which schools cannot afford to find from their own budgets. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The legacy is all too clear, with schools having to cut services to the bone as years of Westminster austerity hit hard, and a recruitment and retention crisis that is a detriment to children’s education every single day. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“One day’s disruption through strike action is dwarfed by the long-term damage caused by policy on education funding, on workload, and on pay. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The majority of schools were effected in Wales today, with up to a third closed. This is no cause for celebration, but an indication of the level of anger amongst our members. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is a huge statement from a determined membership who smashed through the UK Government’s strike threshold that were only ever designed to prevent strike action happening at all. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“NEU members do not want to go on strike again. But as the Education Minister knows, they will walk out again on 14 February. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We need urgency in discussions, so that our members can get back to doing what they do best, working with pupils in the classroom. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“However, we know that our members will do whatever it takes to stand up for education, including further strike action” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​