Teacher's across the North West could walk out in Autumn over pay demands

Teaching Unions in England are warning of strikes over unmet pay demands, despite reports of an improved offer being considered by the Government's treasury.

Initial proposals included a 3% rise for experienced teachers, but this has been slammed as simply not enough.

There are concerns that with the cost of living crisis, and a rapid rise in inflation, this offer would see many teachers still massively out of pocket.

Now unions are threatening to walk out over the plans unless a much improved offer is made.

Pete Middleman represents the teaching union NEU, he said: "We know other unions in the sector, representing 90 per cent of the profession now, will be in a similar position. This means there's a real danger of significant industrial action in schools all the way through the months of October, November and December unless the government get a grip of this problem.

"The system is such that there's been a massive transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich and it's been refreshing to see some narrative about that since the rail strikes and it's something that we want to contribute to as well to help working people in the UK to understand how the economic system is rigged against them.

"Whether it's 3 per cent or 5 per cent both are inadequate when inflation is running at 11 per cent and teachers pay has lost 20 per cent of it's value in real terms since the advent of austerity back in 2008."

Speaking in the Commons earlier this week as Education Secretary Nadihm Zahawi said he believed No teacher “would want to strike” after the disruption the pandemic has caused for pupils.