Today, 23 June, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in England announced its intention to strike on 5 July, despite less than a quarter of its members voting.
The NUT’s reasons for striking are unclear. The government is engaged in talks with unions about all of the issues they claim to be striking about.
It is irresponsible for the NUT to call a strike on the same day as the Key Stage 2 results are published.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
It is disappointing the National Union of Teachers has chosen to take unnecessary and damaging strike action, which less than a quarter of its members voted for. It is even more disappointing when we have offered and committed to formal talks between ministers and the unions to address their concerns about pay.
Industrial action causes disruption to children’s education and to parents who have to take time out of work to arrange childcare. We urge the NUT not to proceed with this strike and to resolve pay disputes at the negotiating table rather than playing politics with children's futures.
The Trade Union Act – which received Royal Assent in May 2016 - will ensure that in important public services, including education, an additional threshold of 40% of support to take industrial action from all eligible members must be met for action to be legal.