Schools will face disruption next week as thousands of teachers across England and Wales strike.
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are walking out on Wednesday February 1 amid pay disputes. The strike follows a pay rise given in 2022.
Most teachers were given a 5 per cent pay increase last year, but unions say that this isn't in line with inflation, which means that teachers have actually had a real-terms pay cut of 11pc. Wednesday's strike will coincide with walk-outs by staff at universities, train drivers and 100,000 civil servants.
The NEU has planned a further six days of industrial action across areas of England and Wales in February and March. The NEU expects 'most schools' will be closed to students on Wednesday, but the Manchester Evening News has been told that final decisions on who might be able to attend classes could be made as late as the day of the strike itself.
Schools will be contacting parents directly to confirm whether they intend to open, either fully or partially, during the strike day. The Department for Education has said parents should send their children to school unless they have been told not to attend, or they are unwell.
Many parents will be worrying if their child's school is closed on strike day and what their rights are when it comes to taking time off work to look after their child. According to Citizen's Advice, employees are allowed to take reasonable time off to care for a child.
Known as dependent leave, workers can take time off if 'care arrangements for a dependent suddenly break down' or 'an unexpected incident involving your child at their school' occurs. It will be unpaid leave unless your contract of employment says you will be paid.
Your employer must be notified as soon as possible that you’ll need to be off. You also need to say why you need the time off and when you expect to be back.
If you have been employed at your company for a year or more, you are entitled to unpaid parental leave, which is 18 weeks’ leave for each child and adopted child, up to their 18th birthday. However, employers must give 21 days’ notice before their intended start date, according to Gov.uk.
Parents may also be able to use their annual leave to care for their child on strike days. GA Solicitors says: "An employee, or worker not entitled to time off for dependents, may request to take the day out of their normal annual leave entitlement. Unless a notice requirement is stipulated within the contract of employment, an employer should be given notice that equates to twice the number of days’ leave they want to take."
The next NEU strike days are currently planned for the following dates:
- Tuesday 14 February in Wales
- Tuesday 28 February in Northern and North West England and Yorkshire & The Humber
- Wednesday 1 March in Eastern England, the East Midlands and West Midlands
- Thursday 2 March in South East and South West England and London
- Wednesday 15 March in England and Wales
- Thursday 16 March in England and Wales
READ NEXT:
