ELL schools to shut again: NUT vote unanimously in support of more industrial action over pay and workloads

Teachers across ELL’s boroughs will once again take part in a one-day national strike after NUT delegates voted overwhelmingly in support of industrial action.

The strike will take place on June 23 and will be the fourth time that teachers in the ELL boroughs have taken industrial action during this school year.

The first strike to affect ELL schools came on October 17, when NUT and NASUWT members took action across London. This was followed by a national strike by both groups in December. After the NASUWT decided against further industrial action, the majority of ELL schools had to be closed again on March 26, when the NUT decided to strike for a third time.

The strike action is part of a long-running dispute between teaching unions and the Ministry of Education over pay and an increase in workload.

The NUT are angry with the education reforms that Minister of Education Michael Gove has brought in, reforms that include an increase in the retirement age for teachers and the introduction of a system of performance related pay.

Speaking at the strike in March, Jamie Duff, press and publicity officer for Hackney NUT said: “This government is intent on a creeping privatisation programme and for that to happen they have to deregulate our terms and conditions so that is why they’re attacking our pay, pensions and workload.”

According to the NUT, the discussions that have taken place with the Minister have been unsatisfactory and they feel industrial action is the only course of action to take until their demands are met.

Speaking to the BBC after the decision was announced, Jerry Glazier NUT spokesman said: “We want Michael Gove to acknowledge that we have very serious about the workload, for teachers, the pay levels for teachers and about the pension situation for teachers. And it those serious concerns are linked to the future of the profession.”

The decision to strike was made by delegates at the NUT’s national conference in Brighton on Monday.

The majority of those present voted for action that would see NUT members across the country strike.

In addition to the strike in June, delegates did not rule out further plans industrial action in the autumn term.

In reaction to the announcement from the NUT, a spokeswoman from the Department for Education said: “”Ministers have met frequently with the NUT and other unions and will continue to do so.

She added: “Further strike action will only disrupt parents’ lives, hold back children’s education and damage the reputation of the profession.”

It was feared that the strike could affect the A-Level and GCSE exams due to take place that week.  However, the NUT have said that teachers that are needed to overlook examinations will be exempt.

 

Leave a Reply