Schools face major disruption as teachers vote to strike over pay

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said its ballot of members had shown that 82.5 per cent were in favour of walkouts, with a turnout of 27 per cent. Members also voted for industrial action short of strikes, with 91.6 per cent in favour, the union said.

The result raises the threat of huge disruption to schools later this term.

The NUT, which has previously balloted members over changes to public sector pensions, has warned of joint strikes with the NASUWT teachers’ union

The NASUWT already has a mandate to take industrial action over the same issues. Yesterday, the NUT said the two unions will be campaigning together to “ensure that the onslaught of attacks on the teaching profession stops”.

Further details of the campaign will be set out on Monday.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “The NUT is left with no option but to take action to protect the well-being of our members and restore their rights to do their job thoroughly and properly.

“Teachers are being undermined by a Government whose almost daily criticisms and erosion of working conditions and pay, coming on top of previous attacks on pensions, are unacceptable. This negative approach to the profession has to stop.

“No other profession comes under such continual scrutiny and no other profession has accountability systems based on so little trust. This is bound to lower morale.”

The ballot result follows a warning by the leader of the UK’s biggest trade union – Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite – of a fresh wave of co-ordinated strikes because of continuing anger over cuts to pay and pensions.