Teaching union members back strike action in indicative ballot

A total of 90.3 per cent of NEU members in Bolton voted "yes" to strike action, which is said to reflect the "deep frustrations felt by educators across the country".

This result mirrors the national picture, where NEU members overwhelmingly voted for industrial action.

"This overwhelming vote for strike action by Bolton teachers sends a clear message to the government," said Robert Poole, Assistant District Secretary for the NEU Bolton.

He said: "Our members are at a breaking point. They are overworked, underpaid, and struggling to cope with ever-increasing class sizes and a lack of resources. They simply cannot continue to do their jobs effectively under these conditions."

Picture taken last year (Image: PA)

The NEU is calling on the government to address the teacher pay crisis and invest in school funding.

The union is demanding a significant pay rise for teachers to restore lost wages and make the profession more attractive.

Additionally, the NEU is calling for increased funding for schools to ensure all students have access to a quality education.

"Our members are passionate educators who are dedicated to their students," continued Mr Poole. "They are not taking strike action lightly. However, they feel they have no choice but to take a stand for themselves and for the future of education in this country."

The NEU will now consider next steps, which could include a series of coordinated strikes across the country.

An overwhelming majority of National Education Union (NEU) teacher members in England and Wales who took part in the preliminary ballot said they would strike to secure an above-inflation pay rise and further funding for staffing.

More than half of NEU teacher members – over 150,000 – in state schools and sixth forms in England and Wales took part in the preliminary electronic ballot.

The ballot, which launched on March 2 and closed on Thursday, asked teacher members if they would vote “yes” to strike action for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise and further funding to provide improved levels of staffing provision.

The NEU is the largest teaching union.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: “This is an indicative, and not a formal ballot.

“But the facts speak for themselves; over half of our members voted in the ballot and overwhelmingly supported a move to a formal ballot to secure a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise which constitutes a meaningful step towards pay restoration.

“The result demonstrates the mass discontent within our profession to which the Government should take notice.

“Urgent steps are required to tackle the crisis in education and our members know this.

“Our annual conference gathers in Bournemouth next week and delegates will determine the next steps in our pay and funding campaign.”

What other teachers' union says

The NASUWT union has also been consulting its members in recent weeks to gauge whether they would be interested in taking industrial action on pay, workload, working hours and well-being.

The results of the NASUWT’s consultative ballot are expected to be announced at their annual conference in Harrogate in Yorkshire over the Easter weekend.

Last month, the Department for Education (DfE) said in evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) that teachers’ pay awards should “return to a more sustainable level” after “two unprecedented years”.

In July last year, the Government agreed to implement the STRB’s recommendation of a 6.5 per cent increase for teachers in England, and co-ordinated strike action by four education unions was called off.

Picture take last year during rally (Image: Newsquest)

What the Government says

A DfE spokesperson said: “The independent STRB is currently considering evidence for this year’s pay award, unions should engage with this process instead of striking before they even know what the pay recommendations are.

“It is therefore extremely disappointing that the NEU has voted to proceed with a formal ballot for industrial action.

“Further strike action would cause more disruption to pupils who have already lost over 25 million school days due to last year’s industrial action.

“Overall school funding is rising to over £60 billion in 2024/25, its highest ever level in real terms per pupil – and teachers have already benefited from two historic pay awards totalling over 12% in just two years.”