Teachers Threaten Strike Action Despite Recent Pay Rise

Teachers are on the brink of striking due to concerns over their pay, despite having received a significant raise from the Government last September. Delegates at the NASUWT teaching union's conference in Liverpool have indicated that the Government's next pay offer must be fully funded or it will be rejected outright. The union has resolved to enhance its campaign efforts, urging the committee to reject any inadequately funded pay proposals and to initiate a ballot for potential industrial action.

The National Education Union (NEU) has also threatened to put forward strike ballots unless improvements are made to the current pay proposal, which they consider unsatisfactory. This situation adds pressure to Chancellor Rachel Reeves as it risks highlighting the Government's previous decision to grant a pay increase only a few months ago.

Teachers in England received a 5.5% pay rise, funded in full, after a series of strikes that had disrupted school operations. The Department for Education is suggesting a modest 2.8% increase for the 2025/26 financial year, yet negotiations appear stalled between teachers' unions and the Government. The NASUWT has emphasized that any future pay increases must be backed by adequate funding to address recruitment and retention challenges in the teaching profession.

Union officials, including junior vice president Dan Lister, have made it clear that the union will not accept any pay offers that lack full funding, highlighting the ongoing strain on teachers and the implications for student education. General Secretary Patrick Roach echoed these sentiments, asserting that teachers deserve a real pay increase and urging the government to provide the requisite funding to support this.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson warned that further strikes would be unreasonable, urging unions to prioritize student needs. She acknowledged the financial challenges facing the education sector and hinted at additional tough decisions to come, as the Government continues to navigate a difficult economic situation. Following a previous agreement in which the Government had accepted the pay review body's recommendations, the NASUWT is expected to announce nominations for its next general secretary very soon.