Some schools are likely to be closed in Wales next week as thousands of teachers and staff in Wales go on strike. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are striking on February 1 and 14, and on March 15 and 16 in a row over pay and conditions.
Both the NEU and NAHT, two of the UK's biggest teaching unions, voted in favour of strike earlier in January. NAHT has yet to announce any dates but NEU members will strike on February 1 and 14, and on March 15 and 16. Education minister Jeremy Miles said this week that some schools are likely to be closed on the first strike day next week, although it is up to schools and their local authority to decide whether or not to close.
Unions have been in talks with Welsh Government which has offered staff a one-off payment in addition to last year's 5% across-the-board offer, but unions say this is unlikely to prevent strikes taking place. Teachers in Wales rejected the Welsh Government's offer of a 5% increase in November, calling it an "insult", and say real-term reductions in pay over the years have led to a recruitment and retention crisis with schools struggling to cope with higher workloads and unable to recruit enough staff.
