In this article, we outline the teachers strike dates in the UK and reveal when are the next strikes scheduled to be held.
Members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) have embarked on a work-to-rule action in schools across England, as part of an ongoing dispute with the government regarding pay, excessive workloads, and working hours.
This move comes after the four major teaching unions, including the National Education Union (NEU), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and NASUWT, had initially accepted a government offer of a 6.5% pay increase back in July. Although the other unions agreed to the deal, NASUWT decided to persist in its efforts for improved pay and working conditions.
The NASUWT, a significant player in the educational landscape, had already garnered support for strike action and other work-related protests before the acceptance of the government’s pay offer. In their latest move, the union has called on its members to follow strict working hours and adhere to a work-to-rule approach, effectively limiting their work time and avoiding any additional tasks beyond their contractual obligations. This directive, set to begin on September 18th, could potentially affect staff at approximately 10,000 schools across England.
It’s worth noting that members of NASUWT working in sixth-form colleges have reached an agreement on pay, while teachers in Northern Ireland have also been involved in a work-to-rule action since October 2022. However, the pay dispute has been resolved in Scotland, and the NAHT members in Wales have also settled their grievances.
Parents may wonder about the implications for their children’s education in the event of such actions. The government has stated that schools should remain open whenever possible during teacher strikes. However, teachers are not obligated to declare their intention to strike in advance, and there are no specific regulations regarding when parents should be notified of potential school closures. The decision to close schools ultimately rests with individual headteachers, and some parents may only learn about a closure on the morning of the industrial action once staff availability is determined. Currently, there are no minimum staffing requirements for schools, and headteachers can employ agency staff or volunteers who may not follow the regular curriculum.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has initiated discussions with unions about introducing voluntary minimum staffing levels on strike days. Additionally, parents in England have the option to request leave for caring for family members or dependents, including emergency childcare. While employers are expected not to unreasonably refuse such requests, employees may not receive compensation during this time. Alternatively, individuals may consider using holiday or unpaid parental leave. Schools have been urged to prioritize vulnerable students and children of key workers and to minimize disruptions to exams and formal assessments. The NEU has provided guidance to help headteachers ensure a minimum level of teaching staff for students with upcoming exams.
The primary concern of teachers in England has been securing an above-inflation pay increase while preventing budget cuts from impacting education. Although most state school teachers received a 5% pay raise for the 2022-23 academic year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reported that teacher salaries in England had fallen by an average of 11% between 2010 and 2022 when accounting for inflation. Unions argue that pay has decreased even more, by up to 23%, during that period. The government initially offered a one-off payment of £1,000 and a 4.3% pay increase for most teachers in 2023-24, with starting salaries reaching £30,000. However, all four major unions rejected this proposal, prompting the government to remove the £1,000 payment.
Subsequently, an independent pay review body recommended a 6.5% pay increase for the following year, leading to a joint statement in July indicating that this offer could avert strike action. The government has also committed to providing a hardship fund of up to £40 million to support schools facing severe financial challenges.
In Northern Ireland, teachers have not reached a pay deal since 2021. Following the rejection of an offer of approximately 3.2% over two years, unions demanded a 6% pay increase for 2021-22 and inflation plus 2% for 2022-23. Several unions, including the NAHT, NASUWT, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, Ulster Teachers’ Union, and NEU, have engaged in strike action, including a half-day strike and additional industrial action days following Christmas. For the first time in its 125-year history, NAHT members took strike action over pay. Furthermore, teachers in Northern Ireland have also participated in work-to-rule actions, such as refusing to provide lunchtime supervision and declining meetings held outside working hours. Some non-teaching school staff in Northern Ireland have staged a 24-hour strike as well.
In Wales, NEU teachers accepted an increased pay offer of 8% for 2022-23, including a 6.5% annual pay increase and a 1.5% one-off payment, along with a 5% annual pay increase for 2023-24. However, the NAHT in Wales initially rejected this offer, citing concerns about funding arrangements. They subsequently initiated work-to-rule actions, which concluded after NAHT members accepted a new workload agreement, an improved pay offer, and additional funding in November.
The pay dispute in Scotland was resolved with unions accepting a 7% pay increase for 2022-23, retroactive to April, and agreeing to a 5% pay increase in April 2023, followed by a 2% increase in January 2024.
In terms of salaries, classroom teachers in England earned an average of £38,982 during the 2021-22 school year, while their counterparts in Wales and Scotland earned £39,009 and £40,026, respectively. However, no specific figure was provided for Northern Ireland. The average salary for head teachers in England was £74,095 during the same period, while other senior leaders earned an average of £57,117.