Stop undermining us, teachers demand

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday joining those in the NASUWT who are already taking action, meaning around nine out of 10 teachers in England and Wales are set to be involved.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: “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.

“The action we are taking at this stage will have a positive benefit on children’s education and restore a balance to the working lives of teachers.”

The leader of the NASUWT claimed that teachers taking industrial action have been threatened with breach of contract and salary deduction.

General secretary Chris Keates warned that action could increase later this year if the Government does not respond to teachers’ concerns.

“The action is already having an effect because there have been threats from local authorities and schools of breach of contract or deductions from salaries.”

Ms Keates said unions were trying to keep the action “pupil and parent-friendly”, such as cutting down on paperwork, but she warned the position could change, especially after a report from the teachers’ pay review body later this month.

A Department for Education spokesman said the Government was “very disappointed” that the NUT has chosen to take industrial action, adding that “only a tiny minority of their members” had actually voted for it.