Teachers vote in favour of strike action

Teachers have voted to take strike action over pay, conditions and school funding.
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The National Union of Teachers announced today (June 23) that 91.7 per cent of its members in England who voted, were in favour of a walk-out.

The first day of strike action will be held on Tuesday July 5, with more expected to follow.

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A spokesman for the NUT said the strike demands called for an increase in funding to schools and education, a guarantee of terms and conditions in all types of schools, and to resume negotiations on teacher contracts to allow workload to be addressed.

Kevin Courtney, the NUT’s acting general secretary, said: “The NUT is not taking action lightly.

“In light of the huge funding cuts to schools, worsening terms and conditions, and unmanageable and exhausting workloads, teachers cannot be expected to go on without significant change.

“The effects on children’s education are also real and damaging.

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“As a result of school funding cuts, class sizes in primary and secondary schools are increasing, subject choices are being cut, and children are getting less individual attention as teachers and support staff are made redundant or not replaced when they leave.”

He added: “There is already a teacher recruitment and retention crisis in our schools.

“Without significant change to the pay and working condition of teachers, this will simply deepen. We know that many parents share our concerns.”

Figures from the NUT showed ballot papers were sent to 210,458, with 51,530 – 24 per cent – being returned.

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Of those, 47,218 voted in favour of strike action and 4,285 against.

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