NASUWT teaching union fails to meet ballot turnout

12 January 2023, 15:34 GMT

Updated 3 hours ago

Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Image caption,

Teachers have been striking in Scotland already

Nine out of every 10 teachers who voted in a ballot over pay in England and Wales were in favour of striking, a union says.

But the NASUWT union also reported a 42% turnout – below the threshold needed for lawful strike action.

Its general secretary, Dr Patrick Roach, said the union remained in formal disputes over pay.

The government said it would continue talks to avoid any “damaging” industrial action.

Dr Roach said NASUWT members were “sending a strong message to the government”.

“The readiness of our members to support industrial action demonstrates the anger of the profession and the need for governments in England and Wales to engage in meaningful negotiations to address the deep concerns of our members,” he added.

Two other teaching unions are yet to release the results of their ballots in England and Wales.

Teachers from five unions in Northern Ireland are continuing to take action short of a strike – affecting meeting attendance and administrative tasks.

Most state-school teachers in England and Wales had a 5% pay rise in 2022, well below the rate of inflation.

Downing Street said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan had had a “constructive meeting” with union leaders earlier this week – and a similar one on Thursday.

“She agreed the importance of working together to avoid strike action that would be damaging to children,” an official said.

“We know the disruption that children have already faced in terms of their education due to the pandemic, so we obviously don’t want to see any further disruption.

“We continue to want to try and help and facilitate teachers and the unions to receive a fair and affordable pay deal.”

The NASUWT, which represents both primary and secondary teachers, balloted 150,000 members in England and 10,000 in Wales.

A 50% member turnout is needed for lawful industrial action.

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Ms Codrington-Rogers is worried about pay and workload

NASUWT national officer Michelle Codrington-Rogers, who teaches at a secondary school in Oxfordshire, estimates her pay has risen by just £120 above inflation over the past 15 years.

“In that time, I’ve been married, I’ve had my own child, I’ve run my own household,” she says.

“When you start to get the bills – electricity going up, food going up, transport going up, and being able to give your children and your families the start that they need – that’s when teachers start to see the disproportional impact.”

Teachers leaving the profession means those who remain have a greater workload, Mr Codrington-Rogers adds, and if they burn out if affects their pupils.