4th July 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The National Union of Teachers has announced that 2,700 schools in the north-west of England will be subject to strike action. Staff at the schools are participating in a one-day strike over pay and pensions. The NUT and the NASUWT have said that more strikes should be expected in the autumn term, organised in response to government plans for later retirement, increased workload and detrimental changes to pensions. The government has responded by saying that the action damages the profession’s reputation, but the unions have stressed that the strikes have been timed to cause minimum disruption to students.
Chris Keates of the NASUWT released a statement in which he said that the coalition government has mounted savage attacks on the teaching profession. Pay and pensions, already amongst the lowest in Europe, have been reduced in real terms, and conditions of service have worsened. He concluded that responsibility for the strikes lie with the failure of the government to engage in meaningful negotiations. Education Secretary Michael Gove has responded by saying that, although they will continue to meet with union representative, the department has no intention of making significant changes to the plans that are in place for the coming year.
The NUT has said that strike action is necessary while the government continue to refuse to enter into meaningful talks to resolve the issues faced by teachers. Christine Blower, secretary of the NUT said that "The responsibility for driving teachers to take industrial action rests entirely with an arrogant, reckless secretary of state who is determined to sacrifice teachers, pupils and our public education service on the altar of his own flawed ideology." The NUT has said that the regret any disruption that will be caused for students, but have scheduled the strike at times which will avoid students’ exams. The strikes are due to take place across the north-west, including Blackpool, Cheshire, Liverpool, Manchester and Stockport.