NUT and NASUWT to strike tomorrow

Members of the NUT and the NASUWT teacher unions, who together represent 9 out of 10 teachers, are both in dispute with the Government. The failure of the Government to enter into meaningful talks aimed at reaching agreement is now leading to strike action.

These disputes cover:

• Excessive workload and bureaucracy;
• Cuts and other changes to teachers’ pay;
• Adverse changes to their pensions;
• Job cuts.

Teachers are deeply concerned about the impact these imposed changes are having on the morale of the teaching profession, the recruitment and retention of teachers and on the provision of quality education for pupils. The NUT and the NASUWT are asking the Government to enter into genuine talks to resolve this dispute.

Members of the NUT and the NASUWT teacher unions have been engaged in jointly co-ordinated industrial action short of strike. This action by our members has been designed to enable teachers to focus on the job of teaching and to prevent a crisis in the teaching profession which could have devastating consequences for our schools.

However, the Secretary of State for Education is continuing to make changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and conditions of service that are not supported by teachers and are making it much harder for schools to recruit and retain good teachers. The Secretary of State for Education is refusing to engage in genuine talks with the NUT and the NASUWT about teachers’ concerns, despite numerous requests by both unions.

Teachers deeply regret the disruption caused by strike action. However, the Government’s refusal to engage to resolve the dispute means that they have no alternative other than to demonstrate to the Government the seriousness of their concerns.

Most Eastbourne schools will be shut tomorrow, as staff take this unfortunate but necessary action in defence of our profession.