Education Secretary Gillian Keegan on Monday ramped up the war of words with teaching leaders by saying other public unions had paused strike action but not the National Education Union.
Ms Keegan said Unite, Unison, the GMB and unions representing physiotherapists and nurses had all agreed to start intensive talks with the Government over their own pay disputes, but despite the same offer being made to teachers, the National Education Union (NEU) had not “come to the table”.
It comes after the majority of London schools were closed, or partially closed, last Thursday as teachers walked out. Parents have been warned that the worst is yet to come, with further walkouts planned for March 15 and 16.
Ms Keegan tweeted: “Unite joined Unison, CSP, GMB and the RCN in pausing strike action to start intensive talks with the Government. We’ve made the same offer to the NEU to discuss all areas of their dispute. In the interest of children and teachers I once again urge the NEU to come to the table.”
Teachers reacted with fury on social media, with one headmaster saying: “I’d look in the mirror, rather than out the window, for why others have made progress in disputes and you haven’t.”
Frosty relations between teaching unions and the Government were also highlighted in a leaked WhatsApp exchange between former health secretary Matt Hancock and former education secretary Gavin Williamson during the pandemic.
In one message referring to teaching unions, Mr Williamson wrote that they “really, really do just hate work”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the texts showed “an appalling lack of respect for teachers” at a time of national emergency, when unions were attempting to hold formal talks with the Government.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “Given the current dispute with the Department for Education over teacher pay, we sincerely hope Gillian Keegan does not share this attitude and gets around the table to discuss a resolution to the pay dispute.”
Three quarters of London schools were estimated to have been closed entirely or partially on Thursday as teachers went on strike, with more than 750,000 children disrupted.
Since the first national walkout on February 1, a further 9,000 teachers have joined the NEU. The union is arguing for above-inflation pay increases, and wants schools to get extra money to ensure those pay rises do not come from existing budgets.
Meanwhile, firefighters were today expected to accept a pay offer aimed at averting strikes, with a union leader stating that the proposed deal was a “step forward” achieved through collective bargaining. A revised offer was made last month to the Fire Brigades Union of a seven per cent pay rise backdated to last July and a further five per cent from July this year.
The union’s executive has decided to recommend that members vote to accept the offer in a ballot which opened on February 20 and closed today. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s a step forward but it would not be the end of our campaigning on pay.” Mr Wrack said feedback indicated that the offer would be accepted by members.
