On Wednesday 15 March, the date of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, members of
the National Education Union (NEU) in England will begin two
consecutive days of strike action as part of our campaign to win
a fully funded, above-inflation pay
rise.
Parallel strike action in Wales has
been called off on those two days in order that members can
consider new proposals from the Welsh
Government. (1)
For members in England a national
demonstration has been organised for 15 March in London,
culminating in a rally at Trafalgar Square. This is the focal
point for the first day of action, which we are encouraging all
members to attend as well as parents and other
supporters.
12.00 noon: assemble Park Lane
(southbound carriage)
12.30 pm: march sets off from junction
with Upper Grosvenor Street, heading towards Hyde Park Corner via
Piccadilly and Haymarket. Route here.
1.15 pm: march arrives at Trafalgar
Square for the rally, with speeches expected from around
1.30pm.
Speakers will include Dr Mary
Bousted and Kevin Courtney of the NEU, Paul Nowak of TUC,
and representatives of the RMT, BMA, and Green Party amongst
others.
On day two,
Thursday 16
March, there will be
individual school pickets throughout
England.
Photo opportunity: ahead of the Spring
Budget, on Tuesday 14
March, the NEU will
launch an advertising campaign asking Chancellor to save our schools. The NEU
has hired 20 advans explaining the reason why education
is in crisis, including messages from teachers on the frontline.
They will assemble at Cartwright Gardens, WC1H 9EH at 11am and
then travel in convoy to Westminster to take our message directly
to the centre of Government that urgent action is needed to save
our schools.
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin
Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education
Union,
said:
“We do not want to go on strike – we
want to be in the classroom, teaching and supporting children and
young people. It continues to be a regret that our members have
to take strike action, but we know that parents and the
public understand the gravity of the situation around school
funding and teacher recruitment and
retention.
“The NEU, as we have always stated, is
prepared to enter talks at any point. And, as and when through
negotiation a reasonable offer from Government is made we
will pause strike action while the offer is put to members. This
is exactly what happened last week in Wales. needs to take a leaf out of
the Welsh Government's book, stop playing politics and get down
to serious negotiation.”
Editor’s
Note
-
Details of Wales pay offer, 10
March: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/wales-pay-offer
