Everything you need to know about strike action in UK schools
Children and parents are facing more disruption as thousands of teachers across UK schools are going on strike, after the largest education union in the UK rejected the Government’s pay offer, branding it “insulting”.
Teachers were offered a £1,000 one-off payment this year, and a 4.3 per cent rise in 2024. They were also assured that starting salaries would rise to £30,000 from September. And, in a ballot over the offer, 98 per cent of the National Education Union (NEU) members who voted chose to reject the deal.
Unions representing teachers in UK schools
In the UK, there are several unions that represent teachers, headteachers, and other education professionals. These include:
1. National Education Union (NEU)- the largest teachers’ union in the UK, formed by the amalgamation of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
2. The National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)– provides unrivalled protection, benefits and support for teachers, from professional advice and legal support to High Street discounts and free training.
3. Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)– is the leading professional association and trade union for all school, college and trust leaders.
4. National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) – represents head teachers, deputy and assistant heads, school business leaders, special educational needs coordinators, virtual school heads and leaders of outdoor education centres.
5. Voice– a union that represents teachers, lecturers and other education and childcare workers in UK schools.
6. The University and College Union (UCU)– represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK.
The union representing education professionals varies depending on their specific role and level. Different unions also have different priorities and bargaining agendas, though all of them work towards guaranteeing rights and fighting for better working conditions for their members.
What are teachers’ pay demands?
Unions want above-inflation increases, plus extra money to ensure any pay rises do not come from schools’ existing budgets. Teachers in the UK have had different demands and concerns over the years, including:
1. Pay: Teachers in the UK have been demanding better pay to reflect the increasing cost of living. They have also expressed concerns over the pay gap between experienced teachers and new entrants.
2. Workload: Teachers in UK schools often complain of having to work long hours and coping with excessive workload, which affects their health and well-being. They have called for a reduction in workload and administrative tasks that detract from their core teaching duties.
3. Class sizes: Some teachers feel that class sizes in the UK schools can be too big, which makes it difficult to give individual attention to students. They have demanded smaller class sizes to improve the quality of education.
4. Funding: There have been concerns over funding cuts to schools and the impact it has on students’ education. Teachers have called for more investment in the education sector to support teachers, improve resources, and reduce class sizes.
These are just some of the demands and concerns of UK teachers. The demands of any future strike may vary depending on the teachers’ union and the circumstances of the particular situation.
What do teachers in UK schools earn?
Classroom teachers were paid an average of £38,982 in the 2021-22 school year in England, £39,009 in Wales and £40,026 in Scotland. Northern Ireland did not provide a figure.
The average head teacher salary in England for the same period was £74,095, and £57,117 for other senior leaders.
Why the UK government refused the teachers demands?
It is not accurate to say that the UK government is refusing to accept the teachers’ demands. The government has engaged with teachers’ unions, including meeting with them and listening to their concerns about issues such as pay, workload, and class sizes. The UK government has also made some commitments to address some of these concerns. For example, in 2018, the UK government announced a pay rise for teachers and other public sector workers, backdated to September 2017. Additionally, the government has pledged an extra £14 billion for schools over the next three years.
However, there are often disagreements between the government and the unions on how to address issues affecting teachers and education. For example, the government might have different budgetary priorities or may disagree with the unions on the best way to manage workload or class sizes. Industrial action, such as strikes, can be a way for teachers’ unions to increase pressure on the government to address their concerns.
It is also essential to note that governments must balance the needs and demands of different groups, including teachers, with wider economic and social factors. Ultimately, it is up to the government to make decisions based on a range of considerations, including working within financial constraints and providing the best education possible to all students while ensuring fairness and equality for all.
Strikes in UK schools
Read more:
UK TREND : The public’s response to the teachers strike
UK TREND: The harsh reality of Brexit strikes again
UK TREND : Junior doctors to cause ‘most disruptive strike in history’
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