A major teaching union said it will ballot its members if a higher wage packet is not offered within three days. The National Education Union (NEU) told The Observer it is prepared to ballot its 460,000 members if it does not receive a pay offer closer to inflation by Wednesday June 22.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said an initial ballot would be taken to gauge reactions, and that a second ballot specifically on industrial action is possible. NASUWT leaders have also called for a 12% pay increase for teachers this year, and said it will ballot members in England, Wales and Scotland for industrial action if its demands are not met.
A pay award for 2022/23 is due in November. Two in three teachers are questioning whether to change careers due to wages, and the value of teachers’ pay has dropped by 20%, NASUWT said.
