School closures loom in fall as main teachers' union votes in favor of strikes

Members of the NASUWT union have voted overwhelmingly in favor of industrial action in a bitter dispute over wages and working conditions

A staggering 88.5% of eligible NASUWT members voted in support of the strike (

Image: Zuma Press/PA Pictures)

Further school closures loom this fall as a major teachers' union voted overwhelmingly for pay walkouts.

In a bitter dispute over wages and working conditions, 88.5% of eligible NASUWT members voted to strike.

The union, which has 300,000 members across the UK, broke legal rules for participation earlier this year.

But anger over the government's miserable wage offer has prompted its members to back the walkouts with a turnout of 51.9%.

The NASUWT has said it will begin action barring full strikes in September - and full walkouts are on the table.

This comes after the leaders of the four main teachers' unions agreed earlier this year to coordinate industrial action if their strike votes were successful.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU), the largest education union, have already taken part in seven national strikes and three regional walkouts in recent months.

Union boss Dr Patrick Roach says his members deserve better pay (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

The NEU renews the vote of its members to extend its strike mandate for another six months.

Headmasters of the ASCL and NAHT unions are also being elected for walkouts. Deadlines for all three ballots loom at the end of the month.

NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach says its members have sent a 'strong message' to the government that 'teachers are demanding better pay and excessive workload and hours' .

He added, "Our members have won the biggest industrial action mandate from the NASUWT in over a decade, topping the government's union-busting vote thresholds.

"We have written to government and employers today confirming the prospect of industrial action in schools across the country beginning this fall."

Unions have already rejected a £1,000 one-off payment for 2022/23 and a 4.5% average rise for staff next year.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan referred the decision to the government-appointed pay review body, which would have recommended a 6.5% pay rise.

But the Ministry of Education (D...