Norfolk teachers last chance to decide whether to strike, as ballots close
Members of the National Education Union have until the end of today to vote
Members of the UK's largest teaching union living in Norfolk have until later today to vote on whether they want to go on strike in February and March.
The National Education Union is closing their ballots today with their results being announced at 5pm on Monday.
Headteachers from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) have also been balloted.
The NASUWT has already announced nine out of 10 of its members in England and Wales voted to strike over pay, but their turnout failed to reach the 50% threshold required by law, with 42% turning out to vote, meaning they won't be able to walkout.
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.
The remaining results of the ballots will be published over the next few days - with results from the NEU expected to be announced at 5pm on Monday.
The Department of Education is currently offering a 5% pay increase, but NEU and NASUWT want a 12% pay-rise for their members.
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.
"Starting to eat away into teacher confidence and pay"
Scott Lyons is the NEU's joint district secretary in Norfolk:
"No teacher wants to strike, it's something that we want to avoid as much as possible. Teachers want to be working, caring for pupils and making the changes needed in school.
"But again what cannot be ignored is the huge impact of the Government's decisions over the last two and ten years, that are starting to eat away into teachers confidence and pay".
"Teachers pay increases are normally funded by the Government. But the Government say they are not going to fund this one, because their own analysis shows that employers, Trusts and Norfolk Council have enough to pay. This all after Covid and the pupil catch-up programme.
"Since 2011, of the 270,000 teachers that are qualified, 81,000 have left the profession. Those are figures that just cannot go on and that's having an impact in the classroom, obviously. Owing to loss of colleagues, loss of coverage in the curriculum and it's not going to get any better at this rate".
What have the Government had to say about this?
A No 10 spokesperson said: "The Education Secretary held a meeting earlier this week, a constructive meeting with union leaders, and I believe that she held a similar meeting today.
"She agreed the importance of working together to avoid strike action that would be damaging to children.
"We know the disruption that children have already faced in terms of their education due to the pandemic, so we obviously don't want to see any further disruption.
"We continue to want to try and help and facilitate teachers and the unions receive a fair and affordable pay deal.
"But as I say that the most important thing is that we continue to talk."