Ballots close on teacher strikes
Ballots on whether or not to take industrial action are closing for teachers across England and Wales today (Friday).
Teachers from some of the UKs biggest unions have been voting on whether to strike in February and March, in a row over pay.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) have until today to cast their vote, while the NASUWT closed ballots on Monday (9).
Headteachers from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) were also balloted.
NASUWT says nine out of 10 of its members in England and Wales voted to strike over pay, but the turnout failed to reach the 50% threshold required by law, with 42% turning out to vote.
If strike action is approved for NEU and NAHT members, with more than 40% of members voting in favour (and a 50% turnout), schools up and down the country may be forced to close while teachers are on strike.
Closures would affect millions of working parents.
The remaining results of the ballots will be published over the next few days - with results from the NEU coming on 16th January.
The current offer on the table of 5% pay increase from government falls short of the 12% requested by NEU and NASUWT.
In a survey completed by NASUWT in 2022, it was found that 68% of existing teachers want to quit the job, with 54% of them citing pay as a key factor.
Paul McLaughlin is the National Education Union's Essex Rep. He says members are voting in their many thousands in response to the neglect that they've felt over pay:
"We're now in absolute crisis in terms of the profession.
"Often teachers are the last people to complain about their own salary, but everybody is struggling. We know the country is struggling. And in response to that, people are saying enough is enough.
"We appreciate this is a very worrying time for parents and for students. The last thing we want to do is disrupt their education.
"Doing nothing would be more harmful for them, because doing nothing means people leaving the profession."