07.02.14
Strike date set for teachers
Teachers are set to strike again on 26 March, unions have announced.
Staff in England and Wales will take industrial action against changes to pay, pensions and conditions. The government plans to introduce a new performance-related pay structure and a tougher pensions package.
Unions last met with government officials over the action in October and the new action follows a series of strikes last year.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said: “Michael Gove’s persistent refusals to address our ongoing dispute over pay, pensions and conditions of service, is unnecessary and deeply damaging. As a result, thousands of good, experienced teachers are leaving or considering leaving the job and a teacher shortage crisis is looming with two in five teachers leaving the profession in their first five years.
“The NUT and NASUWT met with government officials in October – now over 17 weeks ago. Reassurances were given that Michael Gove would talk about a wide range of matters on implementation of pay and pensions and the direction of travel and implementation on conditions. Subsequently, the Education Secretary has put obstacle after obstacle in the way of talks, showing no serious attempt to resolve – or even to discuss – the matters in dispute.”
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(Library image c. N Hall)