Union warns teacher strikes could last until Christmas
NEU workers across the east are back out on strike this morning
Schools and colleges across the East will be hit with two more days of disruption beginning this week (27 April and 2 May) as members of the National Education Union (NEU) take strike days five and six in their long-running dispute about pay and school funding.
The latest strikes come after the union announced at its Easter conference in Harrogate (3 April) that 98% of members, on an impressive turn-out of 66%, had rejected the latest offer made by Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education. That translates as 191,319 serving teachers in state schools in England who voted online over six days to seek further improvements from the government.
Commenting in advance of the strikes, the NEU’s Central Bedfordshire representative, Emma Brady said:
"For the NEU, 98% of teachers who responded to the survey said no to the offer and we had a 66% turn out just in six days. So I think that demonstrates the disappointment in the profession, how we don't feel valued.
"We're also doing more in terms of providing services, in terms of students mental health because of other services which have been cut.
"We need more investment in all of our public services, otherwise there aren't gonna be people to teach."
We asked about the effects of strikes on students taking exams:
"The NEU recognises this and no teacher wants to strike. We all want to be in class, delivering to our students in the best educational environment, and that's not what our schools are right now. Class sizes are too large and the provisions that are provided are inadequate due to inadequate funding.
"The NEU has put in place special dispensation arrangements that have been negotiated locally at schools. Year 11 and Year 13 examination students have had, with approval and negotiated with schools, arrangements made for those students.
The union can't compel staff that are striking to provide work, but they do support staff that are actually doing so. So, for example, in my own experience, I'll be setting work for my year 11 and 13 so they can do revision at this key time. But the only way to stop this disruption is for the government to come back to the table."
She says the government needs to invest in school buildings, as well as teachers...
"It's not an inviting environment for graduates to come to because of the lack of funding. A lot of schools are dirty, dilapidated. They need a an investment of cash to make it inviting environment for our graduates to work in as well."
The NEU has asked its local officials to seek voluntary agreements with individual headteachers to ensure that revision and exam practice lessons for students facing GCSE and A-Level examinations this term are not affected by the strikes and have indicated that dispensation will be provided to members in discreet circumstances on both of the announced strike days.
There's picket lines across the county today, including in Dunstable, Biggleswade, Ampthill and a rally at Dunstable's Grove Park.
A Department for Education spokesperson said it's made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers and that it's investing a further £2 billion pounds in schools.