Sixth-form teachers to strike over cuts and pay

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said yesterday its members working in sixth-form colleges had voted in favour of strike action in protest at the Government’s funding cuts, and cuts to their pay and conditions.

A date for the first action will be decided in the next few days. The union carried out ballots for two different disputes – one covering Education Secretary Michael Gove as the minister responsible for deciding on colleges’ funding, and another involving college employers, who the NUT say are increasing class sizes and working hours and freezing teachers’ pay.

In the dispute with the Education Secretary, covering 101 colleges, turnout was 28.6 per cent, with 76.4 per cent voting yes while in the employers’ dispute, covering 91 colleges, turnout was 32.4 per cent, with 71.9 per cent voting in favour.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “Cuts to the funding for these institutions are having a devastating effect. Restoring their funding and reversing the increases in class sizes and cuts to teachers’ pay are essential or standards are bound to suffer.”

The move comes just months after the NUT took part in the TUC’s day of action in the row over pension reforms. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers announced yesterday that it is to start balloting its members working in sixth-form colleges in England for strike over a “0 per cent pay offer.”