Teachers from the NEU union have voted to take strike action in England and Wales.
They have called a national strike on 1 February, 15, and 16 March plus there are several regional dates too.
The education secretary Gillian Keegan says she plans to meet union leaders later this week.
Action will take place both nationally and regionally on the following days:
- The full list of strike days are:
- Wednesday, 1 February: all eligible members in England and Wales.
- Tuesday, 14 February: all eligible members in Wales.
- Tuesday, 28 February: all eligible members in Northern, North West, Yorkshire & The Humber regions.
- Wednesday, 1 March: all eligible members in East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern regions.
- Thursday, 2 March: all eligible members in London, South East, South West regions.
- Wednesday, 15 March: all eligible members in England and Wales.
- Thursday, 16 March: all eligible members in England and Wales.
The National Education Union has said “In our ballot, NEU members have voted in overwhelming numbers to take historic strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise. We have to save our schools.”
“In England, 90.44% of teachers in the ballot group voted YES to taking industrial action on a turnout of 53.27% per cent.”
“This was a really hard decision for our members to take. They do not want to be on strike. They want to be in the classroom, doing what they do best – teaching and supporting our children and young people.”
“But it’s a last resort. It sends a resounding message to the Government: we won’t stand by and watch the destruction of education without taking a stand.”
“The union is declaring seven days of strike action in February and March, though any individual school will only be affected by four of them. The first will be on Wednesday, 1 February, affecting 23,400 schools in England and Wales. Teacher members in sixth form colleges in England, who have already been balloted and taken strike action in recent months, will also strike on these days in a separate but linked dispute with the Secretary of State.”
“This dispute can be resolved without recourse to strike action. We are willing to enter into negotiations at any time, any place, but this situation cannot go on.”
