Could there be any more teacher strikes in 2023?
Teacher strikes have proved disruptive for children and parents alike this year and this summer unions in several sectors are set to continue their action.
The National Education Union (NEU) in schools in England have held three regional and five national strike days since February.
While strikes on trains have hit commuters and major events such as Eurovision and the FA Cup final, walkouts by teachers cause widespread disruption for families who then have to juggle childcare and home schooling.
Passport office workers, junior doctors, nurses and airport staff are among those who have taken action this year – and strikes by French air traffic control caused headaches for many of those flying.
So will there be any more teacher strikes this year?
Here’s what you need to know.
Could there be any more teacher strikes in 2023?
The NEU is due to meet on June 17 to decide whether to take further strike action in the week commencing July 3.
Further strikes could be incoming in the autumn term, too.
Three unions are currently balloting their members to take strike action in the autumn term, with the NEU and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)’s ballots currently running, and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)’s due to commence this month.
If the ballots are successful, the unions could then call strike action at the start of the 2023/2024 academic year – in the run-up to Christmas and into next year.
Yesterday, (June 6), the general secretaries of the NEU, NAHT ASCL and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) wrote to their members in all schools in England encouraging them to hold joint-union staff meetings on industrial action.
They pointed out that their combined memberships would mean action, if taken, ,would affect nearly every school in England.
Some teachers in Northern Ireland, and Wales, are also taking action short of a strike.
Why are teachers striking?
In a joint statement, the unions said: ‘The education system has faced years of real-term pay erosion; a funding crisis; enormous recruitment and retention challenges; escalating workload and working hours; and an inspection system that is doing more harm than good.
‘We have worked incredibly hard to engage with the government on these issues and to try to find satisfactory solutions, but it simply refuses to listen.’
MORE : No end in sight for rail strikes which could drag on for ‘up to five years’
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