Union-organized School Strikes are occurring throughout the UK, where teachers are refusing to go to work in the hope of an increase in salary. Not only is this occurring in the education field, but it has also previously been seen in the UK with train conductors and firefighters. This is all a consequence of the decrease in the UK’s economy by 0.6%. However although this figure may seem small it has meant that the cost of living situation has increased from about 10.5% to 11.5%, meaning that people have had to go without heating despite the extremely cold weather.
This is because of a belief of union workers that their teaching salary has been worn away by inflation and expect their wages to be increased to compensate for this. Teachers’ wages have decreased by 3.9%, which is about £2,179 less than the average, compared to that of 10 years ago, when their salaries were adjusted to the inflation crisis.
The NEU (National Education Union) has stated that 100,000 teachers across 23,000 schools will participate in a series of strikes (which have already been confirmed to be on seven days but are willing to increase until an agreement is met).
Teacher strikes are impacting students across the UK in different ways, such as meaning that schools will be shut for all, or only for students whose children are not key workers.
In the UK it has been confirmed that teachers will strike on the following days:
- Wednesday, 1st February: for all eligible members in England and Wales
- Tuesday, 14th February: for all eligible members in Wales
- Tuesday, 28th February: all eligible members in Northern, Yorkshire, North West and The Humber Regions
- Wednesday, 1st March: all eligible members in West Midlands, and Eastern Regions including East Midlands
- Thursday, 2nd March: all eligible members in South East, South West and London
- Wednesday, 15th March: all eligible members in England and Wales
- Thursday, 16th March: all eligible members in England and Wales
However, it has been said by the NEU (National Education Union), that individual schools will not be affected for a maximum of four days.
