Teachers’ strikes will continue next week unless there is “real progress” in pay talks ahead of Saturday, the National Education Union (NEU) says.
The NEU said it would recommend its Executive Committee on Saturday to end the strikes – but only if there was a “serious proposal” from ministers.
The government, meanwhile, said it would only hold formal talks if the strikes were halted.
The teachers are due to go across the north of England next Tuesday.
Strikes will follow in the Midlands and eastern region of the NEU on Wednesday, and in Wales and southern England on Thursday.
- When do teachers strike and how are they paid?
- The government recommends 3.5% pay rises in the public sector
The NEW announcement, which was sent in writing to ministers, comes after the government proposed a 3% pay rise for most teachers next year.
Most state school teachers in England and Wales saw a 5% increase in 2022.
The NEW, which is asking for a pay rise above inflation, said the latest offer was not enough.
On Tuesday, the Department of Education (DfE) said it was ready “to begin formal talks on pay, conditions and reforms” – but only if the NEU cancels strike action next week.
In response, Dr. Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the NEU, said that ministers are “requiring the NEU to abandon the only thing the government has brought to the negotiating table, without any assurance that the negotiations are indeed serious and in good faith”.
“We are ready to suspend the strikes next week if negotiations really move forward,” they said.
“But the government has to show good faith. We urge ministers to drop their preconditions and start serious negotiations.”
School leaders’ union NAHT on Tuesday called the government’s announcement an “olive branch with a thorn” and said it had “no understanding of how to maintain good industrial relations”.
Meanwhile, intense talks between ministers and the Royal College of Nursing are taking place on Wednesday after the union halted next week’s 48-hour strike in England.
The Government has proposed a 3.5% increase for all NHS workers.
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