Teachers in England are set to strike for two days next month amid their long-running dispute over pay.
The National Education Union (NEU) announced members will walk out on July 5 and 7, causing disruption to schools in the current term. The NEU is currently re-balloting its members to see if they want to continue taking industrial action for the rest of the year.
Strikes were previously held earlier this year but fresh warnings have been made over disruption, as other unions are also balloting their members for strikes. It comes over ongoing disputes over pay and teacher funding.
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The unions have warned of co-ordinated action in the autumn term if there is no settlement to the dispute, PA reports. Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, said it was within the grasp of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan for the action to be halted.
They said: "Time and again the National Education Union, alongside its sister unions, have called for the Education Secretary to get around the negotiation table to settle this dispute for a fully-funded teacher pay increase. Time and again our calls have fallen on stony ground.
"The Education Secretary refused to re-enter negotiation on the grounds that she and her department were waiting for the publication of the School Teachers' Review Body's (STRB) recommendation on pay."
Speaking previously, teachers on the picket line said they did not want to be on strike, but "had no choice". One teacher said: "The pay we get doesn’t reflect the accountability and responsibility we have, it’s exhausting. People saying it’s a cushy job, well then why are so many leaving?
"I love my subject and the kids gain so much from it. You don’t become a teacher for the money, but we need the quality of life."
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