As the National Education Union (NEU) prepares to announce the outcome of a strike ballot today, thousands of teachers could be set to strike.
After more than 300,000 teachers and support staff were asked to vote in a dispute over pay, the NEU has stated that walkouts could begin at the end of the month in England and Wales.
Sponsored Link Recommendation from What Are Full Mouth Dental Implants in Turkey? Full Mouth Dental Implants in Turkey at a Price That May Surprise You Make investing more accessible: The price may surprise you. Dental Implants in Turkey | Sponsored Make investing more accessible: Meet the former trader who is leading the brokerage revolution using technology. Branded Content Murdoch buys the priciest home in U.S. history for $150 million Mansion Global Pakistan Second hand furniture prices might be cheaper than you think (see offers) Pakistan Second hand furniture prices might be cheaper than you think (see offers) Search Ads The union will have to give two weeks’ notice of any industrial action. Meet the ex-trader using tech to lead the brokerage revolution.
Nine out of ten NASUWT teachers union members who cast ballots last week supported strikes, but the turnout was below the 50% threshold.
Today marks the beginning of 16 days of rolling strike action by members of the Educational Institute of Scotland union. Beginning on February 6, teachers in two of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas will walk out each day.
The first two councils affected are East Lothian and Glasgow, where all schools are closed today with the exception of those taking preliminary exams.
Following the failure of talks on Thursday between representatives of the Scottish government, leaders of local authorities, and teaching unions, the action is moving forward.
As of today, members of the union known as the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland will also begin 16 days of rolling strikes.
The strikes occur as part of a week-long wave of industrial action that has swept across the UK for months.
On Wednesday and Thursday, nurses in England will strike.
The Royal College of Nursing has issued a warning that the next set of strikes will include all eligible members in England for the first time if progress is not made in negotiations by the end of January. The government continues to insist that pay claims are unaffordable and is sticking to its line that wage rises should be decided by pay review bodies. Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts.
In the meantime, leaders from the GMB union will meet today to decide whether to call more strikes among their ambulance members due to the lack of progress in talks. Health unions are refusing to submit any evidence for the pay increase in 2023/24 to the NHS pay review body until the current ambulance workers on the picket line in London earlier this month.
It is likely that any decision will be made public later in the week.
In a pay dispute, Unison employees at the Environment Agency will go on strike on Wednesday.
Mary Bousted asserts that the government has not properly negotiated with teachers regarding potential strike action. 0:31 Play Video – “I didn’t get one call from education sec.” Mary Bousted asserts that the government has been aware for months that teachers were considering strike action.
Train operators and rail unions will continue their discussions in an effort to resolve the ongoing dispute that has resulted in a number of strikes since last summer.
Both parties claim that they are working toward modifying the offer.
It comes as 100,000 civil servants from the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) are preparing for a strike on February 1 that will affect governments, driving test centers, museums, ports, and airports.
More details:
Health Secretary Mark Harper says rail companies have been given “permission” by transportation secretary to make a new offer to unions this week. Transport Secretary Mark Harper says a teachers strike would be “very regrettable.” 0:38 Watch Video – Teacher strike would be “regrettable” On February 1, the TUC will hold a series of protests against the government’s controversial proposed new law on strikes.
Later today, parliament will give its Second Reading to planned legislation that aims to guarantee minimum levels of service during strikes.
In opposition to the government’s move, a protest will be held outside Downing Street.
In a long-running dispute over a case management system known as Common Platform, PCS members who work as legal advisers and court associates in more than 80 courts across England and Wales are also planning to take additional strike action.
On January 21 and 28, around 300 PCS members will take action.
Wherever you get your podcasts, you can subscribe to Sky News Daily by clicking here. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka stated: Our members will continue to resist the ineffective Common Platform system and fight for the integrity of the entire justice system as long as managers continue to ignore them.”
After the government was accused of trying to “steamroller” through new legislation on strikes amid growing outrage over the “spiteful” measure, this week’s industrial action will take place.
As part of the ministers’ response to months of strikes and upcoming walkouts, a bill requiring minimum service levels during industrial action will receive its Second Reading in parliament on Monday.
Labour declared that it would oppose the legislation as well as any attempts to expedite its passage through parliament without adequate scrutiny.
According to the TUC, the proposed law would grant ministers vast new powers that would limit the right to strik.
