UK Teachers Announce Strike Over Pay

Industrial action looked ready to worsen on Monday after Britain’s largest teaching union announced a series of strike days over pay next month in England and Wales.

The National Education Union (NEU) stated that its members voted overwhelmingly to walk out as part of calls for an above-inflation pay rise.

The announcement came as public sector workers hold a wave of walkouts for salaries to take into account double-digit inflation.

“We believe the government knows there needs to be a correction on teacher pay,” NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said in a meeting with members.

The union leaders are set to have a meeting with the education minister on Wednesday.

“They know that we mean business. They know that you are prepared to take action to protect your jobs, to protect your pay and costs and to protect your ability to remain in the profession,” said fellow joint general secretary Mary Bousted.

The union announced a national strike day on February 1, folllwed by a series of more regional strikes over six days in February and March.

It added that each school will only be affected for four days.