"Victoria, Canada - February 27, 2012. BC teachers and schools are the lowest paid and financed in all of Canada, and teachers are frequently contesting their rights and asking for more money to be inested in education. These women and other teachers walking toward the Legislature are a handful of many who showed up at the Legislature or participated in a province-wide rally in front of their school."
As reported by the BBC, talks between teachers’ unions and the government begin as the National Education Union confirms no further strike dates in England will be announced for two weeks
In a joint statement with the teachers’ unions, the Department for Education said the talks would focus on teacher pay, conditions and workload reduction.
“In order for talks to begin and, we hope, reach a successful conclusion, the NEU has confirmed it will create a period of calm for two weeks during which time they have said no further strike dates will be announced,” the statement said.
Four teachers’ unions – the Association of School and College Leaders, National Association of Head Teachers, NASUWT and the NEU – will all be involved in the talks with the education secretary, Gillian Keegan.
More than half of schools in England closed or restricted attendance on 15 and 16 March.
Data released by the Department for Education showed 47% of all schools in England were open but restricting attendance, and six per cent were fully closed on both strike days this week.
The National Education Union, which represents 300,000 teachers are asking for an above inflation pay increase – that does not come from existing budgets in schools.
It says it is about investing in this generation of children who have been hit so hard by Covid.
The education secretary Gillian Keegan says she has been extremely disappointed by the strike action.
Most state school teachers in England had a five per cent rise in 2022.
Strike action in Scotland and Wales has already been paused. In Wales, the NEU is consulting members on a increased pay offer of eight per cent for 2022-23 (6.5% plus a one off payment of 1.5%) and a five per cent increase for 2023/24.
And in Scotland, two unions have accepted an increased pay offer of seven per cent for 2022-23, which would be backdated to April. They have also been offered a five per cent rise in April 2023, and a two per cent one in January 2024. One union is still consulting members.
In England, no new strike dates have been scheduled, but the NEU ballot lasts until mid-July which means they can announce new strikes dates until then.
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