September 5, 2013 1.21 pm This story is over 126 months old

Lincolnshire teachers prepare for October strike

Strike confirmed: Teachers in Lincolnshire will be putting down the board pens in October as part of a national strike.
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Two teachers’ unions have announced strike action in October as part of an ongoing dispute with Education Secretary.

Teachers in Lincolnshire who are part of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) or National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) are set to strike on October 1.

On the strike day, local teachers will be able to vent their frustrations at a number of rallies to be confirmed around the county.

The two unions, which represent nine out of 10 teachers in schools across the country, will strike against Education Secretary Michael Gove.

The fallout is over changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and workloads, with unions arguing Gove is “demoralising” the profession by failing to resolve disputes.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of NUT, said: “At the start of the new academic year, the last thing teachers wish to be doing is preparing for further industrial action.

“It is a great shame that the Education Secretary has let things get to this stage.

“With pay pensions and working conditions being systematically attacked and an Education Secretary who refuses to listen or negotiate teachers now however have no other choice.

“Michael Gove has demoralised an entire profession, it is time that he started to listen for the sake of teachers, pupils and education.”

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, added: “The attacks on teachers are relentless.

“The reward for their hard work, dedication and commitment has been a vicious assault on their pay, conditions and professionalism.

“Teachers will be angered by the recklessness of the Secretary of State’s continuing failure to take seriously their concerns and engage in genuine discussions to address them.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are striking over the government’s measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more.

“In a recent poll, 61% of respondents supported linking teachers’ pay to performance and 70% either opposed the strikes or believed that teachers should not be allowed to strike at all.”

Lincolnshire County Council have stated that it is the individual schools’ responsibility to make arrangements or close during the strike action.