NEWS STORY : Teachers’ Union Considers Autumn Strikes Over Pay Dispute
STORY
The National Education Union (NEU), the UK’s largest teaching union, is contemplating strike action in autumn 2025 if the government fails to offer a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise for teachers in England. At the NEU’s annual conference in Harrogate, delegates overwhelmingly rejected the Department for Education’s proposed 2.8% pay increase for the 2025–26 academic year, labelling it inadequate and unfunded. An indicative ballot revealed that 93.7% of participating members opposed the offer, with 83% expressing willingness to take industrial action to secure a better deal.
General Secretary Daniel Kebede emphasised that the proposed pay rise would exacerbate existing challenges in recruitment and retention, stating that many schools would need to make cuts to accommodate the increase. He warned that without a satisfactory pay offer, the union would consider launching a formal strike ballot as early as June, potentially leading to strikes in September.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson responded by urging the NEU to prioritise students’ interests, cautioning that strike action would be “indefensible” amid efforts to improve school attendance.
The NEU awaits the government’s final decision on teacher pay, expected in June. Should the offer remain unchanged, the union is prepared to proceed with a formal ballot, aiming to meet the 50% turnout threshold required for legal industrial action. This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing industrial unrest across various public sectors in the UK, raising concerns about a potential “summer of discontent.”
