Teachers consider new strikes

The government could see wider disruption in schools in England following rejection of its pay offer, with additional unions considering industrial action.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is to ballot its members for national strike action for the first time in its history in the dispute over school funding, the erosion of pay and conditions and consequent staff shortages.

The union says it has tried to resolve the matter by negotiation, but that the government’s offer was “completely inadequate” and was rejected by 87% of eligible members in a ballot with a turnout of 56%.

Meanwhile the second largest schools union, the NASUWT, is to conduct a new ballot of members after 87% of them rejected the offer in a consultative survey. The NASUWT narrowly failed to get a mandate for strike action in a January ballot, despite a large “yes” vote among those participating, because of the strict voting thresholds imposed by legislation.

The consultative survey revealed that 77% of members would be willing to vote for strike action to achieve a fair pay award.