Schools

ASCL confirms date for first national strike ballot in union’s history

ASCL members in England will be asked to vote on strike action over the long-running teacher pay dispute from June 19 to July 31

ASCL members in England will be asked to vote on strike action over the long-running teacher pay dispute from June 19 to July 31

26 May 2023, 15:38

More from this author

ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said the union had 'exhausted' all other options for getting an improved teacher pay deal

The first national ballot on industrial action in school leaders’ union ASCL’s 150-year history will run from June 19 to July 31, it has been confirmed.

It comes as a long-running pay dispute with the government, which has seen three other education unions launch similar ballots, continues.

The vote, which was announced in April, will ask its members in England whether they are prepared to take part in strike action.

If the ballot passes the legal threshold, strikes are expected to take place in autumn and be coordinated with other unions.

In a consultative ballot on the education secretary’s offer of a £1,000 one-off payment this year and 4.3 per cent pay rise for most teachers and leaders next year, 87 per cent of members rejected it.

Geoff Barton, ASCL’s general secretary, said it had “exhausted all other avenues” in its efforts to secure an improved deal from government.

“The government’s neglect of the education system is having a devastating impact on our members, on teachers and other school staff in general, and on the pupils they serve,” he added.

“This cannot go on and, regretfully, we now have no option other than to ballot for industrial action in order to bring the government back to the negotiating table and to secure a meaningful settlement which provides a better deal for education.”

Education secretary says strikes not the ‘right answer’

The National Education Union is the only union to have so far won a strike ballot and its members have staged several walkouts since February in a push for a bigger pay increase.

But the mandate of the union’s current ballot – which saw 90.44 per cent members vote in favour of strikes – ends on July 13.

A fresh ballot of around 300,000 teachers in England began last week and will run until July 28.

Leaders’ union NAHT has also opened a new vote on strike action, which will close on July 31, after its previous vote failed to reach the turnout threshold required.

The NAHT’s dispute with the government has also been widened to cover not just pay and funding, but also recruitment and retention, workload and wellbeing, and inspection, including its impact on headteachers’ mental health.

Teachers’ union NASUWT will re-ballot members on pay, workload and working hours from June 5 to July 10. It also fell short of the turnout threshold last time. A vote for sixth-form college members, launched today, will run until June 12.

The Department for Education has previously said it had “made a pay offer to unions that was fair, reasonable, and recognised teachers’ hard work”.

Ministers have routinely condemned strike action. In a Q+A session with internet forum Mumsnet this week, Gillian Keegan said she had “a lot of sympathy for teachers” and acknowledged that it was “an incredibly difficult job that’s got more difficult”.

But she added: “I’ve never thought strikes were the right answer…all strikes do is affect children”.

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Beyond exams: why ASDAN’s refreshed qualifications are key to real-world learner success

In today’s outcome-driven education landscape, it’s easy to overlook the quieter, yet equally vital, qualities that help learners truly...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Turbo boost your pupil outcomes with Teach First

Finding new teaching talent for your school can be time consuming and costly. Especially when you want to be...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Inspiring Leadership Conference 2025: Invaluable Insights, Professional Learning Opportunities & A Supportive Community

This June, the Inspiring Leadership Conference enters its eleventh year and to mark the occasion the conference not only...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Catch Up® Literacy and Catch Up® Numeracy are evidence-based interventions which are highly adaptable to meet the specific needs of SEND / ALN learners

Catch Up® is a not-for-profit charity working to address literacy and numeracy difficulties that contribute to underachievement. They offer...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Schools

Poorer pupils ‘locked out’ of key subjects due to teacher shortages

Teacher shortages ‘block poorest pupils from some of the best-paid careers in AI-driven economy’

Rhi Storer
Schools

Drop in teacher job adverts as falling rolls and cuts bite

Headteachers say they are expecting to employ fewer staff amid falling pupil numbers and financial pressures

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Schools

Surge in school cuts ‘threatening Labour’s opportunity mission’

Poll for Sutton Trust charity finds rise in leaders laying off staff and cutting curriculum as funding storm hits...

Rhi Storer
Schools

Parents to get more of their money back from sQuid

Company said it had 'reviewed its refund policy' after Schools Week revealed parents' concerns

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *