Teacher strikes set to go ahead after government’s ‘insulting’ pay offer rejected

Teacher strikes are set to go ahead after they rejected the government’s ‘insulting’ pay offer.

Teachers from the National Education Union overwhelmingly turned down the government’s proposal  — and further strikes are now scheduled for April 27th and May 2nd.

Thousands of schools could be forced to close if the strikes go ahead as union leaders urge Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to come back with a better deal.

The government said it had offered teachers a £1,000 payment for the current school year — on top of an average 5.4% rise last September — plus an average 4.5% rise next year.

According to the union, 98% of members who took part in the ballot turned down the deal as they said it ‘did not cut the mustard’.

Both the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, said the new strikes were ‘extremely disappointing’ and would mean ‘more disruption for children and less money for teachers today’.

Responding to the result of the ballot on Monday morning, Ms Keegan said: “After costing children almost a week of time in the classroom and with exams fast approaching, it is extremely disappointing that the NEU have called more strike action.”

She said an independent pay review body would now decide next year’s increase, adding: “The NEU’s decision to reject it will simply result in more disruption for children and less money for teachers today.

“Pay will now be decided by the independent pay review body which will recommend pay rises for next year.”

The NEU is made up of teachers, further education lecturers, support staff and teaching assistants. Other unions are also being asked for feedback on the pay offer and could decide to hold their own strike ballots.