Teachers in England and Wales to strike on March 26

Teachers will strike over pay, pensions, and conditions.

06:27 10 February 2014

Teachers, who have called off the planned strike action for November 2013, are “deeply disappointed” after their meeting with government officials in October led no where. Now, it has emerged that they’re planning to strike on March 26 over pay, pensions, and conditions. 

 

In a statement, NUT General Secretary Christine Blower said: "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.

 

"We on the other hand have made every effort. We cancelled the strike planned for November and postponed action in February. We have indicated we will meet with Michael Gove anywhere, any time to seek to resolve the disputes in the interest of the education service."

 

Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers, said: "It was deeply disappointing to teachers that, having agreed in October 2013 to a programme of talks with the NASUWT and NUT, the secretary of state did not take the opportunity to progress this, despite planned strike action for November 2013 being called off to allow progress to be made.