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Saturday, 13 July 2013
NO OPTION BUT TO STRIKE! – say the teaching trade unions
THE two largest teacher unions, the NASUWT and the NUT, representing nine out of ten teachers, yesterday confirmed the next phase of their jointly coordinated campaign to Protect Teachers and Defend Education.
There is to be a one-day, all-out national strike before the end of the Autumn term.
Following the continued refusal of the Secretary of State to genuinely engage with the NUT and the NASUWT ‘to seek to resolve our trade disputes with him’, plans are in place for the next stage of industrial action, which will include:
• continuation of the current action short of strike action instructions;
• further national rallies in September; a second phase of rolling national strike action in the week beginning 30 September;
• a third phase of rolling national strike action in the week beginning 14 October.
This follows on from the day of strike action taken on 27 June in the North West of England which resulted in the overwhelming majority of schools being closed or partially closed.
The huge support for that strike is a clear indication that the teaching profession has had enough. Faced with an Education Secretary who refuses to listen, teachers have no option but to continue with their action to defend their profession.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: ‘The Secretary of State needs to take seriously the very deep concerns and anger of teachers and school leaders.
‘The relentless attack on the teaching profession is damaging the morale of teachers and undermining the education of pupils.
‘The Secretary of State has the opportunity to avoid further national strike action by demonstrating that he is willing to engage seriously on the issues that we have put to him.’
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the NUT, said: ‘Michael Gove is well aware that under his time as Education Secretary, teacher morale has plummeted. Teachers are angry at the government’s continual undermining of their pay, pensions and working conditions.
‘Strike action is always a last resort for teachers and they are very well aware of the difficulties that this causes for parents and pupils.
‘Teachers, however, have been left with no option. If we do not take a stand now to defend the profession, then the consequences for teacher recruitment and education will be disastrous for all.’
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