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Teacher strikes as early as autumn if Labour fails to fund above-inflation pay rise, NEU moves
Members of the National Education Union (NEU) hold a rally at Old Palace Yard, in Westminster, London, January 29, 2025

TEACHERS could strike this autumn if Labour fails to offer a funded and above-inflation pay award by June, the leader of Britain’s largest education union said today.

National Education Union’s (NEU) annual conference voted to launch a formal ballot on strike action if the government’s final teacher pay and funding offer for 2025/26 “remains unacceptable.”

The Department for Education has said a 2.8 per cent rise would be “appropriate” and “maintain the competitiveness” of teachers’ pay in its evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB).

NEU teacher members in state schools in England have overwhelmingly rejected the government’s recommendation in an indicative ballot, with more than four in five willing to take action to secure an increased pay award.

Mr Kebede was “very convinced” that a formal ballot would pass the 50 per cent legal turnout threshold, adding: “The government do need to recognise it’s in their hands and the membership have been really clear — schools are in crisis.

“Labour’s base, its core vote is already dissatisfied with its current positions.”

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