Teachers from every corner of England are planning to strike. They are responding to the government’s offer of a measly 2.8% pay rise this year. Their ballot The National Education Union (NEU) led the first indicative ballot. The findings indicate that American educators are open to seizing the moment and engaging in actions that will lead them to better compensation. This possible step reflects the increasing frustration among the nation’s teachers over compensation and job environment.
We know that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is serious about starting to improve the Department for Education’s broken relationship with the education workforce. She said as much during last summer’s confirmation process. Teachers have voiced their concerns regarding the government’s recent pay proposal, which many believe does not adequately reflect the challenges they face. The NEU’s indicative ballot was returned by 134,487 teachers or just under half of eligible members at 47.2%. Even with this fairly low turnout, the outcome is a testament to the blue wave of discontent sweeping through educators.
Rob Owens, a science teacher at Dixons Croxteth Academy, noted that his role has expanded significantly since he began teaching two decades ago. He was most concerned that recent salary increases had not matched the growing expectations and demands driving the profession today. Nationally, educators are up against increasing challenges such as increasing workload and recruitment/retention crises. In return, they’re calling for deeper monetary appreciation for all the work they’ve done.
The new pay deal, put forward by the government last December, will see millions of public sector workers—includ ing teachers—set to receive an average 2.8% raise. Unions representing teachers are up in arms over this number. They think that it does not go far enough in addressing the increasing pressures on the profession. NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede stated that the government “must listen to our profession and change course on teacher pay” to ensure that educators feel valued and supported.
The Department for Education’s spending plans include a £3.2 billion increase in school funding in real terms for 2025-26 for England only. They’re touting this increase as a much-needed relief to schools. Over seven in ten teachers agree that the government must fully fund any pay increase itself. They claim that it’s wrong to make schools absorb the costs within their current budget allocations. In the letter to Ms. Phillipson, Mr. Kebede and leaders from three other unions spelled it out. They suggested that the 5.5% pay increase proposed for 2024 should be the bare minimum—a jumping off point for a multi-year plan, involving fully funded, above inflation increases.
Rachael Fidler, a school and college trust leader at Dixons Academies Trust, sees the positive impact flexible working has. She’s convinced these alternatives have the potential to ease the burden on overworked staff. She argued that competitive pay is key to drawing more recent graduates into the teaching profession. Unless these financial issues are dealt with, schools will find it difficult to keep up staffing levels and hold onto experienced educators.
With deliberations still underway, a formal ballot for strike action is not likely before the summer. The government is under soaring pressure to step up and address these doubts. At the same time, educators continue to strike and organize for higher pay and more favorable working conditions.
