Missed chance to stop teachers’ strike, union leaders say

Union leaders have said the education minister has “missed an opportunity” to avoid teachers’ strikes tomorrow.

Gillian Keegan yesterday met with leaders of the unions representing teachers and school administrators to settle a wage dispute that is threatening more than 23,000 schools with disruption this week.

But afterwards, the joint secretaries-general of the National Education Union (NEU), Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, said ministers “were unwilling to deal seriously with the causes of the strikes”.

Paul Whiteman, leader of school leaders’ union NAHT, said “the meeting was unproductive” but further talks would take place.

The Department of Education has offered most teachers a five percent pay rise for the school year, but the NEW is calling for a fully funded, above-inflation raise.

Teachers join train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards in a mass strike over salaries, jobs and working conditions.

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