Following a successful ballot by the National Education Union (NEU), the first set of teacher strikes occurred early February 2023 and further regional and national action is scheduled to take place in March. The action comes from a dispute over pay, with the NEU wanting a ‘fully funded and above inflation pay rise’ and to ensure that this pay does not come from stretched existing budgets. 

 

Why are teachers resorting to strikes? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in relation to this action. When you step into a school it becomes painstakingly obvious. Children’s education is being impacted because there is not enough staffing or funding from the government. Currently, the education system is facing one of the worst ever recruitment disasters in recent history; these shortages harm children’s education. 

 

Opponents of strike action would argue that it severely impacts the delivery of education and could be damaging to students. However, what are the alternatives to strike action? Industrial action is only used as a last resort, trade unions always try to resolve disputes through negotiation beforehand. And when this fails (in this case governmental negotiations) there are arguably no other alternatives. When speaking to sixth formers at Parmiter’s School about their opinions on strike action one commented “I think industrial action is important because they are saying that they deserve a better quality of living than they are being given and that they are being underappreciated so it is fair for them to want their struggle heard and for things to change.” . 

With no new pay offer from the government, it is becoming almost ‘inevitable’ that the teachers' strikes in England will continue into March. With the possibility of the scheduled 1st, 2nd, 15th and 16th strikes occurring, the question is how long will it continue before teachers get the pay raise and working conditions they deserve?